On the Porch

The three of them are taken in by their parents who said, “We want this project to succeed, so you have to create a square for the community afghan, which will be sold and given to charity.”

“Do I get to come over for Michael?”

I think the little boy on the end here with a ball of yarn in front of him is going to make the best one. His name is Edgar. The girl’s name is Joy and the other little boy’s name is Timothy.

“I wasn’t doing nothing,” Edgar said. They’re not going to give them nothing. I know who got you. You’re supposed to remember all of this. Everything’s is fine.

It’s nice. Give me a kiss. Okay. On the mouth. Okay.

Can I have one, too? Yes. I knew they’ve always been like that.

Candy. I want candy. Who’s turn is it?

They’re knitting? Where do you think they are? Yes. They’ve got knitting needles. Looks like one thing they have. There’s their cord. Now what are we going to do with it? I used to knit a lot. I don’t see anything started yet.

Hello, where were you?
Yeah, that’s true.

What were they doing before they were knitting? They were trying to find their knitting needle in a haystack. They grew up in the same neighborhood. You want to be different. This girl I worked with used to knit.

I would say the little one on the end causes trouble.

Where’d you think up this dumb game? He was with Earl.

I never did this, but I’d like to learn how. How long have they been knitting? Not long. Probably just started. You don’t see anything that’s knitted yet. They’re just learning usually, like a scarf or sock puppet. Yeah, that’s a good one. Yes. I think they’re making sock puppets. What? You don’t know what a sock puppet is? Never heard of it.

Why would they be making a sock puppet? I’d like for rather him to look like that girl. I’ve not seen him. Maybe he’s making an individual one. Yes, so each one has their own sock puppet. The one on the end isn’t doing much, so I think his won’t have a head.

Does there have to be something in that box? Looks like yarn coming out of the box. Oh, the yarn is going down the side of it. I can’t make that out right there. I used to knit all the time. There’s a bag to put it in.

What time of year is it? Is that people down in there? I’d say it’s spring time. I agree. It’s not winter time yet.

This is a regular table. Yes, ma’am they are in our goose. This I have to marker and had to buy some this time and last and when I do, I know what I’m going to do, because that’s fall because that’s someone who has six. And she’s put another diddy on it. Yeah, honey. Candy.

Where did they learn how knit?

Well, any kid can watch his mother do it and then pick up the needle. It’s a simple thing. I’m sure their mothers encouraged them to knit. I tried knitting once, but it didn’t turn out for me. It takes a long time to knit a garment. Does it take a long time ? Yes it does. She was just adding something. There are so many different kinds of stitches.

My mother was a beautiful knitter. You can see sweaters and they have different holes so you have to learn how to do different things. One time I was going to eat with them. Earl did. They don’t look particularly hungry. We’re all going to have to get it. They have their own mind about where they want to go.

This is not a circle. They’re all together. I’m not going to without being up there. With all the others? Yeah, that’s who it is. No we don’t have any bait glasses. This girl, she don’t want to go.

As I came back by she wanted to see what they sewed. You can put mine in here if you want it honey. What are you doing here? Here I’ll get you. These are these. He said he’s not as good as she is. That’s alright. She wants to add up all night and run for it.

Two people. I think the boy on this end doesn’t know what he’s doing. I think we should do it all together. Well, hell he watched mother doing it all the time, but they’re teaching him. You better get. I like shorts. Yeah, because she’s out snagging all the time. Well, that’s not why I wear shorts.

I wish that would heal up. How did it happen? I was attacked by a savage bear, but boy, he didn’t last long.

I was wondering if this is real knitting? They’re crocheting. You need two needles to knit, and see, here, there are two needles? That’s a crocheting needle that the girl in the middle.

He’d much rather be banging with a hammer and nail somewhere.

They all look pretty peaceful to me. Then they’re going to like me. They’re having too good a time to be punished. Easy for me to say. How many can you have? Who’s porch are they one. Ha, ha, you doubt it? The two girls on the end have dark hair, but the middle one has some white streaks. That’s what I say.

Did we ever say where they are? Where do they live? They live down the walk a bit. Would you give me about five swigs? I never would have found that many questions, would you?

She’s crocheting, you can tell by how she’s lifting the needle. I don’t know what he’s doing. This one is longer and better.

I need to go. Where do you need to go? My house is in a different place. I’ve got a big sister. My mother knitted some of the most beautiful dresses which came in two pieces with skirts and tops. And she taught us how to knit. I was the oldest We knitted our white dresses for graduation.

What do you want to do with two doolly bars?

My mother made clothes. My mother knitted sweaters, my sister was a designer who designed many clothes for Broadway. . I’ve got the programs from all the shows. My favorite was “Dinner at 8.” I saw some of the top stars on Broadway. There were four main characters and quite a large supporting group about a dinner party this one person was going to give. I gotta go home. He’s going to do it for him.

See there’s a bun there. Mother came through the door, and said it’s time for dinner, so they all got up and went home. All three of them? Yes. All three of them.


Gussy, Barbara, Dottie, Betty Kelly, Toni, Vivian, Kennedy, Collin, Terry

THE JOYS OF PLANT LIFE

They’re both going to see the same person, but he’s taking flowers of an entirely different arrangement than she is. That’s because he knows the girl casually. She knows the girl real well. They’re both real excited about going, but they’re not real sure about each other. Well, it’s been fun chaps. I’ll call you in two weeks. Wake up now. They’re talking about everything. They’re talking about hospitals. Where are they going with the flowers? To see somebody in the hospital.

He just stopped by and picked up the bouquet of flowers at a road side stall. She went to the trouble of getting an arrangement because she knows the person much better than he does. They’re both real excited about going to see her. It is a her. Why is she in the hospital? Nothing serious. Probably just felt like going. To rest? Yeah. No, just to get attention. Good idea.

He knows her better. He should. As long as he knows, everything will come out. What’s the woman’s name? Puddin-tay. What kinds of flowers are these? I don’t know any flowers. The kind on the right look like a mum of some kind. I have no idea what those are. With all the arrangements around them they must be something special. What is the man’s name? John Wayne. He’s a man’s man. How insulting to Mr. Wayne. You keep repeating it and it becomes strange to your mind. He didn’t look like that even when he was eighty. She looks like an Aunt Tessie to me. John is one of the most common names, especially in men. The man is my son, the one in the jacket.

The woman looks nice and happy. This earring is nice. I think it can be fixed. I found it this morning. They are both downstairs.

Who are they going to see? What’s the woman’s name they’re going to see? Claire. That’s dumb enough. We’re going to have a ball. Who is Claire to Aunt Tessie? Her niece. She just wants attention. She’s used to it. That’s why she’s got such a cheerful smile on her face. There ain’t nothing wrong with her. The most important thing is to have all this done right. Aunt Tessie said, “I know her. So there.”

That’s too bad. I want to take the Claire-option out of the picture. Two games. He must have thought of something strange. John Wayne has always been very popular. How he acted. He looks nice. Now we have everybody the same.

What do these flowers smell like? They don’t have any odor at all, unless somebody sprayed it on. They don’t have much on them at all, but they’re beautiful. What do they feel like? They’re real. You can feel the velvet. They smell like the outdoors. You can grow a new plant. It’s not that thorny. Here.

The flowers are nice and soft. Potted plants don’t have smells because they’re so busy growing. They don’t have time. The flowers are going to grow big. How big do you think they’ll get? If you put them in the ground, they’ll get a little bushier. They need more space than they’ve got in the pot.

See all these little babies. They’re pretty. This is something that the Lord gave. This is something they wanted to have, this potted plant. Let’s give them a break. $4.95. We’re very familiar with them. There’s more to them. We should see how they grow.

What do the flowers taste like? Who the hell would eat them? Not me. We’ve found a name. Experience. We have to believe that they’ll change. Who’s planning to eat one? I don’t know why. Everybody’s hungry. Even me. That’s one of the joys of plant life. Taking advantage of it all you can.

Where did the flowers come from? Probably from a florist. Some of the flowers came to your house, because I didn’t have any flowers. They were shaking. What did they say? “I’m shaking.” You guys are bigger, so you’re going to be big shakers. I can’t imagine. They were shaking because it was cold. She’s just using her imagination. Wow. The Spanish people say, “Rosalitos.” They love the way they look. I said, “Oh my goodness,” and then we just wanted to go someplace with the flowers to show other people.

Over here, they’re not like that. Where would you go with these flowers? I’d take them home. If it were me, I’d send them to people that I know. Flowers are nice when people have weddings. You can wrap them up and take them. They’re very pretty.

From now on, everybody’s got to give more. Tony, if these were your flowers, what would you do with them? I’d throw them out! Look at all these beautiful flowers, here. It would be nice if we could just breeze through it.

What do the flowers think of us? Flowers think? Horse-hockey. I see my son with no hair. If you look for a dress, we can make it. The flowers don’t like us breaking them off. They’re some of the most beautiful flowers. I don’t think the flowers think. Maybe they can. If you ever watch the flower, I think they’re beautiful. Do you think they’re happy? I really do. You see them all the many times they come around and they’re talking.

They’ll be dead tomorrow morning. The one ya’ll had out. This place is big.

Must be cold there. Aunt Tessie is wearing a scarf. Their shoulders are hunched up. How should our story end? It’s pretty hard to get into a hospital if you just want attention. Is that a bird in the corner? It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s superman! He’s going to fly above them. I just wanted to see him.

STORY BY: Barbara, Nilsa, Patricia, Betty Kelly, Tony, Dottie, Erwin

HELPERS: Terry, Seychelle, Collin, Sarah

SOME PEOPLE JUST LIKE TO ARGUE

They’re nice. What are we supposed to tell her now, what these two little old farts are talking about? Well, she’s giving her holy hell about something. “Don’t you ever say that again in front of me!” She probably criticized her, or someone in her family. “You shouldn’t have let that young man run loose like that! You should have kept him home.” They might be mothers. Grandmothers. They don’t consider themselves grandmothers, though. They’re just superior beings.

Where do you think they are? I think they’re nice. They’re at the bus station. It says “running” on the wall. They’ve been friends for a long time, those two little old ladies. They’re probably distantly related. Enough to call each other cousin. The whole place looks empty except for them. They’re inside. At least under a shelter. You think this is a tree out here? These must be pictures of their clients, people who eat there or come in and have a drink there.

Is that a snake or a tail? She’s giving her holy hell. What did the young man do? I don’t know. We’ve got to find out. He was probably criticizing a girl. I don’t think so. I think she’s coming down on a boy. Those two little old ladies think they own the world, and they don’t. What do you think their names are? Those two fat ladies? The one of the left is Ester. The other one’s got to be Mary Lee. I think they’ve been friends for too long. They’re not related, just childhood friends. Their families are close. I think they feel like they can call each other up any time they want. Ester’s got the high word right now. Mary Lee is just sitting back, waiting. “Just wait till I get to you.”

Ester has a pretty bracelet. Yes, it’s a combination of silver and gold. Ester thinks she’s superior to Mary Lee. Sounds like there’s more going on. What does she have around her neck? It looks like she’s squeezing something. It looks like they’re in an outside café. I don’t know. I’ve never seen an outside café. It’s a very chilly day.

Mary Lee is looking at Ester. She looks like she’s kind of angry. It just shows. They’re not too happy with each other. They stay that way. One might be. Ester isn’t mad. She’s holding her walking cane.

They’re good friends, but they stay off each other all the time. One’s got something mad at the other one. They take turns being mad at each other. They’ve been together too long. I think Ester is upset at Mary Lee. What is that blue thing? It’s an empty chair. It looks like part of a house. If they’re good women, they know they’re friends.

That blue arm looks like the bushy tail of a fox. It looks like the scarves that women wear around their necks. The other lady has one, too. I think she’s got it all pulled up nice and tight. What is in the picture? Beer? But it doesn’t look like beer. Well, there are glasses there, I guess. I sure miss mine.

They’re in Indianapolis. There used to be a great rivalry being Anapolis and West Point. I’ve been to Anapolis. My first husband graduated from West Point. He didn’t last long when he got to Europe. It’s hard being a military widow. Everyone expects so much and you can’t give it to them. Every time you hear a band or see a parade, you’re expecting to see him somewhere. Nothing he loved better than to be in the service. I thought one of my sons wanted to go to the academy, but they didn’t. I didn’t force them. There’s nothing worse than someone who has been forced into the military.

I don’t think that’s Indianapolis. I don’t think they’ve got that many tall buildings.

They’re at an outdoor café. It’s nothing very exclusive. They drop in there often. I’m sure they know the people that work there. That’s a little town, not a big town. The daughters are friends of theirs. The table leg looks like a D. It’s just part of a table.

How is their argument going to end? This old bittie is going to win it. The other lady is just going to give in. Her friend is so disagreeable she’s just going to say, “Shut up. You win.” “Well, of course I win. I’m right.”

What are their personalities like? Two grouchy old ladies. They like to argue. They don’t want anyone to get mad at their arguments. They just want to argue.

What do they do during their spare time, besides arguing with each other? That takes up a great deal of their time. They get tired from the business. Their daughters are grateful that the other woman takes them way from a while. It’s strange that there’s nobody else in the café. They’re the only two customers it looks like. Even they haven’t ordered much. Why is no one else there? It isn’t time yet. Is it closed? No, there are lights on. They haven’t been served yet because they don’t have any glasses in front of them. Don’t you think this is a beer glass in front of them? I imagine they’re going to drink beer. They like it just like other people do. I don’t think so. They’re probably just having a coke or coffee. Something simple.

What are they going to next? They’re going to the theater. They’re going to break up. What’s that black thing squirting out?

They both think they rule the world. “Well, I wrote to the president and I told him.”

They’re going to go home and then go out again the next weekend. I think they’re going to be okay. I really do. They’ve probably done this their whole lives. Some people just like to argue.

STORY BY: Betty, Patricia, Nilsa, Tony, Barbara

HELPERS: Kennedy, Collin, Sarah

THE SUGAR PERSON

What do you think of these kids just wanting to dig in? Can’t tell if it’s an honest-to God-doll or if they just made it out of the snow. They’re happy. I think it’s a real snowman. No, it’s not.

Why are they making the snowman? Hell, there’s snow on the ground! This is the kind of thing the school requires. Edie is my husband’s daughter. She’s giving a donation. These are just some kids in the neighborhood. You want their names? They have to have an adult with them. I used to see them all the time. I know them, but I don’t remember them. It’s been quite a while. The boy’s name is Frederick. I don’t remember the woman’s name. What makes you think that? We learned last month who was who. One day the people came and gave me a big heart.

In the mornings, sometimes they like to eat food. Are you a teacher, too? I’m not one, but I think I am. You’re not as good a singer as I am.

What is the girl’s name? If she had to operate with fire, would that be news? Her name is going to be Sarah. That’s an interesting supposition. Not really, really. You can have a correct elbow. What about Ethan? That’s more of a boy’s name, so you don’t want that. The parents bring them paper. I love the apples. Now you made me thirsty for a big drink. Forgive me, I’m going to interpret. Something like this needs more.

How do these two kids know each other? They’re neighbors. They get along really well. Did I tell you that Dottie has a beautiful face? Pretty lady. Nilsa has beautiful nails.

Does Frederick have red eyes? No. Neither one of them. Why would his eyes be red? Because he’s been drinking all night! He’s a high-ranking officer.

How old are they? They’re six.

We’re going to have to cook a cake. Are the kids going to have cake? I don’t know about them, but I know about me.

What else is of interest to young children? You can tell that they’re both interested. It’s nice. They need to get in touch with an adult. The little boy looks strong. How can you tell with all those clothes on? They’re two just very average little kids. No kidding.

The girl is a sugar person. She’s beautiful.

What are the kids going to do next? Knock it down! I think the little boy is going to be nice. How should our story end? Well, that’s about it folks. See you next time.

STORY BY: Nilsa, Dottie, Patricia, Erwin, Barbara

HELPERS: Sarah

LADYFISH AND FLIP-FLOP THE THIRD

Mommy is holding the baby up to the family so it can be seen and appreciated. She’s just thrilled to have it. I guess it’s a little boy because it’s got blue on. That’s a lovely picture.

What’s his name? What’s his father’s name? He just be a junior whatever. He’s a third. Somebody something the third.

The men they were talking about, they have everything. They kept on rolling, rolling, you know. I remember that my husband used to tell me, “Nilsa, don’t worry. Go knock on the door and talk to those people. Everything’s going to come out fine. We have a plan. We’re smart. We work and we don’t care what anyone says.” My son started playing the saxophone.

Is this boy a newborn? Why do they have fins? They got to swim! They swim, that’s how they like it. Just for a little while, not all the time.

What is the father’s name? Flip-Flop. The baby’s name is Flip-Flop the Third. Poor baby. He should be known as “I shall overcome.”

This is sad-looking, don’t you think? Is that a dog?

What is the woman’s name? She should say, “Not again.”

Where is the father? Maybe he didn’t want to come. He said he’s going to the water. What you’re doing is a good job. So he’s going to let her do it and he’s just going to stay back and relax.

There might be two kids. Where is the other kid? Go find him! I thought he said Papaya. The things that are most beautiful are the pictures of people. God created this.

The person who took this picture was a professional. Why is he taking a picture of this woman and the baby? Maybe they requested it. Maybe they’re going to pay him for it. When I was a little girl, all the little kids were together. We were trying to sing. Any little thing could happen. Since I saw this picture with the pretty lady, I realized we can conquer the world.

Where are they? A public swimming pool somewhere. Or a shopping center or something.

I thank God that at least we have our children.

The mother’s name is Ladyfish.

Why are they at the shopping center? They’re shopping. What are they shopping for? When you’re shopping, really just everything. Whatever’s the cheapest. It depends on the type of store she’s in. What type of store do you think she’s in? Probably a dress shop, looking for a dress. I doubt it, because it doesn’t look like with those kinds of legs she’s going to be wearing a dress.

Why would she be buying a dress? Well, heavens, everybody buys dresses. Maybe a birthday present for a friend. Maybe she wants an evening gown. Maybe she’s going to a ball.

She was invited to the ball. Because she likes you-know-what. Who is she going with? Does she have a husband? She must have. If she can wake him up, she can take him. If she isn’t married, she’ll go with her boyfriend. I know when my husband and I would go to a dance I’d go out and buy a new gown.

They’re going to go home, count their money and see how much they have left. She’s going to catch hell and the kid’s going to rest easy. Typical.

If they get home in the evening, they’re probably going to look at the television. Not if there’s not something interesting on. They’re probably watching the latest news.

What city is in? Cincinnati. As far away from the ocean as they can get. That would be a hard decision to make. Do you want to go to a local school or do you want to go out somewhere and be different? So he could say, “At my school, this is the way we do it.” All the other kids sit around and say, “Oh, really?”

Is the kid going to school? Eventually, when he gets older. I don’t think we should deprive him of that, just because he’s got a tail.

Do you know that your mother looks like you? You never know what God is trying to plan. He’s big. You never know if He carries rings and stuff.

It looks so sad. I was looking for the house. This picture is very made-up.

What do they like to do for fun? He doesn’t have much of a choice. He has to do what his mommy tells him to do. She tells him to go swimming. Does she have any other children? She’s got at least two. She’s got a boy and girl.

How should our story end? They lived happily ever after. Once and while she gets to go to a ball.

STORY BY: Betsy, Dottie, Nilsa, Tony, Barbara

HELPERS: Collin, Kennedy, Sarah