Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2014 09:36:59 -0700
From: Macout Mann <macoutmann@yahoo.com>
Subject: In the Great Depression 3
This story is designed to show what life was like in the rural Southeastern
United States in the 1930s. It covers several weeks during the summer of
1934. I have researched as carefully as I could to make the dialogue and
events as authentic as possible. It does contain examples of homosexual
sex, so please be warned! Also be aware that, given the time and place,
the sex, at lease in the first few chapters, may not be as frequent or as
explicit as you may be used to. Nonetheless, I think you will find the
story appealing. The events depicted are totally fictional, and any
resemblance to actual persons or events is purely coincidental. Actual
places and products are referred to for the sole purpose of adding
authenticity to the story.
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Copyright 2014 by Macout Mann. All rights reserved.
IN THE GREAT DEPRESSION
by Macout Mann
Part 3
Christopher
It's a week later. Luke is taking Jason to Vicksburg to pick up Matthew's
seventeen-year-old son, Christopher. Christopher is arriving by train from
New York; and Vicksburg, which is about an hour's drive from the plantation
in good weather, is the closest place to meet the train. Luke didn't want
the boy to have to transfer to the bus to get to Port Gibson, because he's
already had to change trains twice.
"Matt sends each of his kids down here for a week or two, because he wants
them to be aware of their heritage," Luke tells Jason. "And your
Grandfather Ezra wants the whole family feel like this is home. It's
funny. The three of Matt's kids that have come so far acted like it was an
awful chore to have to come when they got here, but then they didn't want
to leave when time came to go back home.
"Of course Matt has a lot more money than the rest of us do, but I think we
live a whole lot better than his family does up North.
"I know you'll be awfully disappointed not to be doing all your chores, but
I want you to be responsible for entertaining Christopher, while he's here.
There'll be a lot of things that're completely new to him. He's always had
electric lights. He's never seen a privy. You know what I mean."
The train is only a few minutes late, and Christopher is easy to spot as he
disembarks. He also has distinctive Cromwellian features. Tall, long
nose, high forehead, fair complexion. He did inherit black hair and green
eyes from his Irish mother, but otherwise there can be no doubt that he,
Jason, and Luke are all related. He is a bit better developed than Jason,
thanks to gym classes in the Brooklyn schools. He's wearing a Palm Beach
suit and a fedora. Just what a well-brought-up young man ought to be
wearing on a long train trip.
His voice has no trace of the "Brooklyn accent" that movies and radio
programs make fun of. But he speaks rapidly and with a more strident tone
than his Southern relatives. Almost a different language. "You've got to
be my Uncle Luke," he says, extending his hand in greeting. "I've been
looking forward to seeing you." Obviously a well-brought-up boy.
"And this is your Cousin Jason," Luke responds, "Bill's son. He's also
staying at the plantation this summer."
"A pleasure to meet you too, Jase," Christopher says.
"Let's see to your baggage, then we'll head back," Luke says.
On the way back to the plantation, Christopher describes his trip,
exchanges info with Jason about school and other mutual interests, and
answers questions about life in New York. Luke describes what life is like
in Mississippi, and says that he's asked Jason to take care of entertaining
Christopher. Jason asks if Christopher has been on horseback, and gets a
nervous "no" in response.
"We'll teach you," Jason responds.
It's almost noon when Luke's Chevy arrives at the home place. Just enough
time before dinner for his Aunt Mary to show Christopher up to his room.
The house is laid out like many antebellum plantation houses. There is a
portico with impressive columns. The entrance leads to a wide stair hall
with a parlor and a dining room on one side and two bedrooms on the other.
Upstairs there are four more bedrooms. Since Luke and Mary have no need
for so many bedrooms, one of the downstairs bedrooms has been converted to
a study, from which Luke runs the plantation. One of the upstairs bedrooms
has been converted to a seldom used sitting room. By the time the house
was built in 1860 its kitchen, like most, was put in a separate building
nearby to lessen the likelihood that the main house would be destroyed by
fire.
Christopher is put in the bedroom adjacent to Jason's. The common wall
contains fireplaces for each room and a door connecting them. Each bedroom
contains a four poster bed, a bedside table, an armoire, a dresser, a small
sofa and a chair. They are also equipped with marble topped mahogany wash
stands on which sit a basin and pitcher of water. On the floor is a slop
jar which is emptied each morning by the servant who also makes the bed.
Christopher couldn't get over the huge size of the rooms or the sixteen
foot ceilings that keep them fairly comfortable in the summertime. He
can't wait to get rid of his coat and tie.
The noon meal consists of braised pork chops, rice and gravy, fried okra,
sliced tomatoes, iced tea, peach cobbler for desert, and as always both
biscuits and cornbread. More food on the table than Christopher's ever
seen, enough for the servants to take some home.
Afterward Christopher unpacks, then knocks at Jason's door.
"Come in, Christopher," Jason answers.
"For God's sake, please call me `Chris,'" Jason's guest says. "I'm no
saint."
Being a Southern Presbyterian from Mississippi, a saint is the last thing
Jason would associate the name, `Christopher,' with. Columbus maybe.
Matthew on the other hand had married a good Irish girl, so Christopher has
been raised in the Roman Catholic Church.
"Chris it is," Jason replies.
"Why is it so quiet around here?" Christopher asks.
"Everybody but me takes a nap in the afternoon," Jason answers. "I usually
take a walk. Want to come along? I'll show you around."
They quietly leave the main house and go first to the now deserted kitchen.
In a nearby yard are the chicken coops where the eggs are collected each
morning and where the fryers' necks are wrung for the plantation's frequent
chicken dinners. Then Jason shows Christopher where the big three-hole
privy is.
"Aren't you afraid a snake is going come up and bite your butt?"
Christopher asks.
"Never have heard of anything like that happening," Jason laughs. "I guess
the lye keeps the snakes away. Snakes aint all that big of a problem
anyway. They're as afraid of you as you may be of them. It's funny.
Uncle Luke is a whole lot more afraid of mice than he is of snakes."
Next they go by the stable and the barns, and Jason shows his new friend
Marge, the oldest and gentlest of the horses. "We'll teach you to ride her
tomorrow morning, and then I'll take you to see Grandpa Ezra and Grandma
Nanny. I know they're anxious to meet ya."
Jason shows Christopher the milk cows and jokingly tells him that he'll
have to learn to milk while he's here. Christopher's not so sure.
They visit the old carriage house, which still stows the horse-drawn
vehicle that was the family's major means of transport until just a few
years ago. The first automobile on the place was a Model T, and it was
only recently replaced by Luke's Chevy. There's a big wagon outside that
is still used, drawn by two mules. No trucks. Luke enlists friends who
have them when he needs to take cattle to auction.
They pass the smokehouse where the hog meat is cured each year and go
beyond the meadow that runs alongside the plantation house to enter the
woods. "Maybe we can find a snake, so I can show you not to be afraid,"
Jason teases.
Jason removes his shirt and undershirt, explaining he tries to get sun
whenever he can. Christopher follows suit, revealing a nice torso with
neat nips. He's chalky white, though, like he's never been out in the sun
his whole life.
After they are in the woods, Jason notices that Christopher seems more
agitated. He claws his crotch several times.
"Sorry, cousin," he says, "but I haven't beat my meat since I left Penn
Station."
Giggling, Jason replies, "Well that's something I usually do on these walks
in the woods."
Christopher doesn't need further invitation. His pants and underpants come
down and he joyfully begins to pound his rod. "Hope you don't mind," he
pants. "You're not supposed to admit you do this, but I figure everybody
does, so why try to hide it."
Jason quickly joins him.
"You got no underwear!" Christopher exclaims.
"We aint rich Yankees. Can't afford undies."
"Well when in Rome..." Christopher resolves to abandon his boxers as long
as he's down South.
Both boys watch each other. Jason is amazed at the size of Christopher.
Much longer and fatter than he is. Maybe something else he inherited from
his mother's side.
Christopher cums first, shooting three days' accumulation of semen onto the
forest floor. A half minute later Jason's output joins his.
"Feel better?" Christopher asks.
"Shit yeah," Jason answers.
They get "decent" and continue their walk. Jason shows Christopher the
swimming hole and says that afternoon is a good time to go swimming. As
they emerge onto Red Lick Road to walk back to the house, they meet Andy.
"Like you to meet our nearest neighbor, Andy Osborne, Chris. Chris
Cromwell is my cousin from New York, Andy."
Christopher and Andrew exchange greetings. Andy says he's going swimming
and suggests that the others to join him. Christopher begs off, saying
that he's just arrived and is pretty tired from his trip.
When they arrive back at the plantation house, they find that Aunt Mary is
up from her nap. She offers them Cokes which they enjoy in the parlor,
while Christopher answers all the usual questions from his aunt.
The upright piano in the parlor could use tuning, but it is playable, and
Christopher proves to be a fair piano player. He pounds out a couple of
tunes by George M. Cohan and George Gershwin.
Later at supper, Christopher is treated to a make-your-own-sandwich feast
featuring the plantation's deviled ham. Cook has ground up the meat from
the shank of the ham. Now when it's served, the diners scoop some up, mix
it with mayonnaise and plop it onto slices of "light bread." It's like no
deviled ham sandwich Christopher's ever tasted. The smoky, salt infused
ham needs no other flavoring to make it the best tasting stuff on earth.
Afterward the four of them retire to the portico where a row of rocking
chairs await. They sit and watch the sunset, then listen to the night
sounds. Christopher is about to doze off, when Jason suggests that it's
time to go to bed. Mary says she's sure Christopher is tired after his
long journey. So the two boys head upstairs, each carrying a kerosene lamp
to light the way.
Jason explains that they're not expected to go to the privy in the
darkness, so if Christopher needs to go, he can use the slop jar. There's
paper in the wash stand. He demonstrates how to put out and relight the
kerosene lamp and wishes the older boy goodnight. Christopher is asleep as
soon as he hits the feather bed. Jason follows suit as soon as he's jacked
off into his slop jar.