I told y’all that Mamaw won the knitting award this year. I ain’t sure how all that works, but her and her crew got to go on an all expenses, paid weekend getaway to a waterfall, or a fancy hotel, or something like that. We were all excited for her to go, but that means she would have to leave us with somebody, which I do not like, because that usually means Aunt Cora T. Mamaw said, “No Cora T. this time. After me and her got into it and I ended up at the jail, for whamming the fear of Almighty God into her with my purse, that ain’t happening.”

I was feeling relieved, when Mamaw said, “I am going to take Shady with me, and your Uncle is going to drive us, that’s me and Ms. Wellington up to the resort. You can look after Double Mamaw, but you will probably want some company, so I got my sewing sister Ms. Wellington bringing her daughter Jewel over here this weekend.” Mamaw said this with a huge grin.

“Mamaw! Jewel is coming here to stay, and you ain’t gonna be here?” I was incredulous at the idea. “Yep, you two are old enough to stay out of trouble, and besides Double Mamaw will be a-watching you, and y’all two can look after her. Jewel can stay out in the maw-in-law hootch with Double Mamaw, and you can go ahead and sleep in your own room. You are old enough to know what to do, and what not to do.”

I was absolutely shocked, and I couldn’t help myself, “Mamaw, you know we are real close boyfriend and girlfriend?,” I asked. Mamaw answered, “Yep. I done prayed on this one to the Almighty awhile, and He sees fit to approve, and He will be watching over all of y’all. You two young’uns are mighty fond of each other, but both of you know how to conduct yourselves, and besides, your Double Mamaw will need a whole LOT of attention.”

She continued, “I trust you Pete, and Ms. Wellington is a trustin’ that Jewel. That will give you time to talk, and pray and carry on together fishing and what not, and Jewel told her mama she would be cooking meals for Double Mamaw, so I think everybody works out real good in this situation.”

“Now I ain’t got nobody to get you for church, but if you like I can try to have the Preacher send out the bus. The driver has been sickly lately though, so that likely as not won’t work, but y’all can get on the couch and watch church on TV with mother. I feel real strong about this, and I normally would not do a thing like this before the Eyes of the Almighy, but I am right sure He wants me to trust you.” The more Mamaw talked, the more I could not believe it!

Mamaw went on, “I give you a little more rope, and you don’t hang yourself, I can trust you more. See how that works son?” I replied, “Yes ma’am and I shore appreciate it. Me and Jewel can go fishing, and I can show her around the critters, and we can take care of Double Mamaw. Maybe she will play cards with us, or she can pick out a tv show and we can watch it with her.”

I was absolutely floored by my Mamaw saying all of this. I been hoping, praying and begging God that Jewel and me could spend some time together. Just then Uncle Muddy came in, “Pete, when we are gone this weekend, how about you and that Jewel taking a minute, and maybe scrape the hay out of the barn floor, willya son? It won’t take y’all long, and I ain’t gonna be able to get to it, having to drive all them biddies to a dang vacation spot, that probably don’t have beer.”

Uncle Muddy acted annoyed, but he was secretly pleased to get out of the house, and go somewhere for a change. I told him we would definitely see to it, and I even stuck a note on the refrigerator, listing stuff I wanted to get done this weekend. This is going to be fun, and what a super nice surprise! This was for dang sure a prayer answered.