Julamay Loves Chancey and A Collection of Short Stories

By Bonnie Snow

About the book 

Here is a series of short stories, mostly set in the early to middle twentieth century in the South. Some stories detail the love and losses of Southern people. Other stories deal with emotions that lead to murder. Julamay Loves Chancey deals with a love that was lost by

• Language: English
• Publisher: Go To Publish
• Release date: Apr 14, 2021
• ISBN: 9781647493981

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Julamay loves Chancey and a

collection of short stories

Copyright © 2021 by Bonnie Snow

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher or author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Although every precaution has been taken to verify the accuracy of the information contained herein, the author and publisher assume no responsibility for any errors or omissions. No liability is assumed for damages that may result from the use of information contained within.

ISBN-Epub: 978-1-64749-398-1

Printed in the United States of America

GoToPublish LLC

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Julamay loves Chancey and a collection

of short stories

Bonnie Snow

Contents

Dedication

Julamay loves Chancey

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Crossing the Tracks

Part I Alma Jean

Part II Lady Magnolia

New Jeans

The Bus Ride

Sabie’s Story

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Nowhere Road

Harry Peoples

The Fantasy Game

The Revenge

Part 2 Two and one-half years later

Dedication

This book is dedicated to two of my best friends since childhood, Sandra Owenby and Betty Sue Archer. Without their encouragement I probably never would have pursued having my stories published.

Julamay loves Chancey

Chapter 1

By 1952, tenant farmers and sharecroppers had almost disappeared in the south, where Julian Henley lived on a farm that had been in his family for three generations. Even though he no longer needed the help, he let his last tenant, Rufus Jones, remain on his farm because Rufus had nowhere else to go and he didn‘t have the heart to put him out. Rufus had been on the Henley farm when Julian was a boy and was still there when Julian took over the farm after his father’s death. He had allowed Rufus to bury his wife in the Henley cemetery that was located in the grove of oak trees just past the north field. One morning he noticed that Rufus was not out in the field planting, so he went in the little frame house to check on him. He found him sitting in his chair with the radio still on. He must have died before he had time to get ready for bed. Now Rufus was buried next to his wife.

As Julian walked back up the driveway that was flanked on each side by dogwood trees, he wondered what his wife would say about what he had just done. She wanted him to rent the tenant house out, although they would not be able to get much for it. It was just three rooms, but Rufus had kept the house in good repair while he was living there.

Julian walked around to the back of the house to the kitchen door. His wife did not like anybody coming through the front unless it was company, and especially if they had muddy boots on as he did. She liked to keep the living room and dining room clean in case any company dropped by. They usually stayed in the big eat-in kitchen or on the sleeping porch he built behind the kitchen and master bedroom. About the only time the family went into the living room or dining room was when they ate their Sunday meal and often they had someone from the church, like the preacher or their friends the Giles family, eat with them.

Julian was proud of his home. His father had it built when he was twelve years old after the house that his grandfather had built burned to the ground while they attended a prayer meeting. The new house was farther from the road than the old one and was a two-story house with a big porch all the way across the front. His family used the porch often, especially when it was time for putting up some of the food they grew. They would sit out in the rocking chairs or the swing and shell peas or shuck corn. His father had died a few years after he and Beulah married and they had moved in with his mother and he took over the farming. Now his mother had passed away, so it was just Julian and his family living in the big house. It was a life he loved, although it was hard work, and he hoped one day to pass it on to one of his two girls.

As he entered the kitchen, he saw his wife standing at the stove preparing their supper and his daughter, Julamay, sitting at the kitchen table with her schoolbooks. I was just out at the mailbox when a family drove up. The man was looking for work, said he had been traveling around about a week since the factory he was working in closed. He said someone in town told him I might need some help on the farm since Rufus had died, so I told him he could move into the tenant house at least for this growing season, he said hurriedly.

I thought we decided we could make a little more money by renting it out. You’ve said for years that having a tenant farmer wasn’t profitable now that you had the machines to do most of the work yourself, his wife replied.

I just couldn’t send him away, Beulah. He had a wife and two little ones in the cab of the truck and in the back were four or five school age children. He said they had been staying in the truck since they left to find work. I told him what food Rufus had was still in the cupboards and the furniture was still in the house, so they should make out all right until he can get some crops in. I don’t know how much he knows about farming, but maybe he can make enough for his family until he can find other work. I told him it was just for this season. We weren’t making much off the place when Rufus was there so we won’t be losing anything.

Well, I guess that was all you could do, dear. I know you never could turn anybody away that needed help. I’ll look through the food I canned last summer and take them a few things down in the morning, and see if they have milk for the little ones.

‘Did any of them look like they were in high school, Daddy?" Julamay asked.

Yes, a couple of them did, honey. I guess they will be riding the school bus in the morning. I told their daddy, Mr. Perkins, that the bus came by here about 7:45 so they could be ready, Julian told her as he pulled her ponytail.

The next morning as Julamay walked down the driveway to wait for the bus, she wondered about the new family. As she arrived at the mailbox where the bus stopped, she looked down the road and saw them standing in front of their house. They should know they need to walk up here. The bus driver is not going to like having to stop at two houses so close together, she thought to herself. She noticed that there was a girl and boy that looked like they would be in high school with her, and the three little ones would go to the country elementary school where she used to go.

When the bus arrived, she called Mr. Murphy’s attention to the children standing down the road. She sat down in her usual seat in front of her friend, Sandra, and her little sister, Sue. She always sat there, and saved the seat by her for Vernon. She and Vernon had known each other since they were babies. Their parents were good friends and they had always gone to the same church.

She was right about the bus driver. As the new children got on the bus, he grumbled, Do y’all think I can stop at every house? You need to go up to the stop and get on with Miss Henley from now on. Now go on and find you some seats. As they walked by where she was sitting, she noticed that the oldest girl and boy looked about her age. She was glad to have a new girl live so close by that they could walk to see each other.

When the bus arrived at the elementary school, the two bigger children got up and walked down the aisle to get off. Mr. Murphy said, Aren’t you two a little old to be in elementary school? I think you better wait for me to get to the high school. The high school students on the bus all laughed as the two of them walked back to their seats. Mr. Murphy told one of the children that was getting off the bus to take the three new students to the office before they went to their class. Julamay thought that was one nice thing he had done for the new children.

The main subject of conversation at school that day was the new students. Julamay found that the boy was in two of her classes. When he walked into her history class, he took the seat behind her until she turned around and told them that the teacher had assigned seats and he would have to wait for her to tell him where he was to sit. At lunch, she noticed that each time she looked his way, he was looking at her.

The day ended and she and Sandra got on the bus and took their regular seats. Vernon was usually one of the last to make it to the bus, but everybody knew not to sit in his seat next to Julamay. However, when the new boy got on he sat down next to her. Sandra said, You better move from that seat, boy. That seat belongs to Vernon.

I didn’t notice his name on it, he informed her.

Well, that is where he always sits and you better move before he gets here.

Julamay did not say anything. She knew Sandra was wondering why she did not back her up and make the boy get up. When Vernon got on the bus, Julamay just shrugged her shoulders at him as if to say, What can I do?

Sandra said, Vernon, that new boy got your seat. Tell him to get up.

Vernon just said, That’s okay. I’ll get another seat. Julamay knew Vernon was not the confrontational type, and if she did not object, he wouldn’t either.

Where did you get a name like Julamay? the boy asked her.

My daddy is named Julian and my mother’s middle name is May, so they combined the two and came up with Julamay, she told him.

What’s your mother’s first name? Why didn’t they name you after it?

Her first name is Beulah.

The boy laughed. Well, it’s a good thing they didn’t use it. Then you would be Julabeulah. I think that is what I will call you, Julabeulah.

Julamay laughed and playfully hit him on his elbow. Well, what kind of name is Chancey anyway? Do you take a lot of chances?

Yeah, I guess I did when I sat down here in Vernon’s seat. I thought that girl behind us was going to jump on me. My granddaddy was named Chancey so I was named after him.

What’s your sister’s name and how old are y’all? Julamay asked.

Her name is Charlotte and she’s fifteen. I will be seventeen in a couple of months. How old are you, fifteen?

Yes, I’m fifteen like your sister. Why are you taking tenth grade classes when you are almost seventeen?

We’ve had to move around a lot and go to different schools. That’s why me and my sister are both behind our grades, As he said that he reached over and took her notebook out of her lap and started reading the names of her friends that she had written on the outside. Then he got a pencil and started writing something.

What are you doing? she said as she grabbed the notebook back and looked at it. To her surprise, she saw that he had written under her name, loves Chancey. She laughed and said it was a good thing he had written it in pencil and got the pencil out of his hand and started erasing.

As they got off the bus he said, I know you would love for me to come in for a moment, my dear, as he gave a short bow, but I am afraid my dad needs me to help him in the garden this afternoon.

You are so crazy, she said with a laugh and walked on up the driveway. Somehow she felt different than she did most days when she got home from school. She felt like she had a smile inside her and she did not feel tired like she did on some days when she walked up the drive.

As she walked through the kitchen door, her mother asked her how was school. Oh, it was a good day, not boring like it is sometimes.

Did you meet the new neighbors from next door, her mother asked.

Yes, three of them go to the elementary school and there is a boy and girl in high school, she said. I think I will go up to my room to do my homework today, Mom. I just have some reading to do. Julamay usually came right in and got something to eat and she sat at the table to do her homework so she could be around her mom. However, she thought that she would be able to see one end of the field where Chancey would be working and realized she might be able to watch him as he worked.

When she got to her room, she pulled a chair over to the window and pulled the curtains back so she would be able to see out. She would read a paragraph and then look out the window to see if he was in sight. After the third paragraph, she saw him. It looked like he was dropping seeds into the furrow. His shirt was off and she noticed how slender he was, almost to the point of being skinny. His father was not far behind him, covering up the seeds he had put in the earth. She was still gazing out the window when she heard her mother call from downstairs.

Jula, Sandra is here. Do you want me to send her up?

Yes, Mama, Julamay answered. She was always happy when Sandra came to visit, but this time she wanted to be able to look out the window without being interrupted. Hey, she said as Sandra came in the room, I didn’t know you were coming over today. How did you get here, ride your bike?

No, Mama had to take Sue into town for a dentist appointment so I asked her if she could bring me by here while they were gone, Sandra said as she sat down on the bed.

What are you doing?

I’m just up here reading the chapter in Silas Marner so I can answer the questions Mrs. Hodges puts on the board tomorrow. Have you read it yet?

I read most of it on the bus since I didn’t have anybody but Sue to talk to. You were busy with that boy and Vernon had to sit so far back in the bus, Sandra said giving emphasis to the words ‘that boy’. Why did you let him sit by you and make Vernon have to get another seat? He would have probably moved if you had asked him to.

I didn’t want to be rude to a new student. Everybody had already laughed at him this morning about trying to get off at the elementary school. You know how my daddy is about me treating everybody nice. Anyway, Vernon won’t mind.

Oh yeah, you weren’t so nice to that new girl that started school in September. Do you remember those tricks you played on her? One day when she was absent from school you called her up and told her they had announced that the next day would be tacky day, and she came to school with different colored socks and a skirt and blouse that didn‘t match.

Yeah, and she had one side of her hair in a ponytail with the other side hanging down and had on that crazy looking hat. However, that was different, Julamay said as she laughed. I was nice enough to her in the beginning until she dumped Vernon for that junior boy. She had just been going with Vernon for about a couple of weeks. I don’t like anybody treating him like that.

Why do you keep looking out that window anyway? Sandra said while walking over to look out herself.

I’m just looking out. Is there anything wrong with that? It’s a pretty day, Julamay said defensively.

Yeah, I see what you are looking at. That boy is out in the field and you can see him from here. He sure doesn’t look that good to me.

I think he’s kind of cute. He’s funny, too, and I like the way he smiles at me with his eyes.

I guess it’s a good thing we don’t all have the same taste. He sure is not as good looking as Vernon. I don’t think you should have done Vernon like that today.

You know Vernon and I are just friends. He is like a brother since he has been around all my life. He would have done the same thing if some girl sat down by him.

When Julamay turned to take another glance out the window, she noticed her daddy was down there talking to Chancey and his daddy.

Jula, will you come down here, honey, and help me get the table ready for supper? her mother called from the kitchen.

When she and Sandra got to the kitchen, her mother asked Sandra if she wanted to stay for supper. Sandra told her that her mother would be back soon, so she would wait and eat with her family.

Sandra’s mother arrived just before they sat down to eat. Julamay’s father said the blessing and started passing the food around. I was afraid Mr. Perkins didn’t know too much about farming. Luckily, I checked on them today or those butterbeans they were planting would have never seen the light of day. The boy was putting the seeds down too far apart and Mr. Perkins was putting too much dirt on them.

I took a set of sheets and some towels down to his wife today as I didn‘t think Rufus had many, especially not enough for that big family. I also took some of my canned goods and she seemed mighty glad to get them. I told her not to hesitate to ask for anything they needed. She seemed nice, and those two little ones she had at home were so cute, Mrs. Henley said.

As soon as they finished eating, Julamay and her mother cleaned up the kitchen. When she went up to her room to finish reading, she was hoping Chancey would still be out in the field, but to her disappointment he was nowhere in sight.

The next morning Julamay took more time than usual getting ready for school. She tried on several dresses and ended up wearing a bright blue dress she usually saved for church. Her mother asked why she had decided to wear one of her Sunday dresses to school and Julamay told her she just wanted to dress up for a change. When she walked down the driveway, she could see the Perkins’ children were already waiting for the bus. She felt self-conscious as she walked up to them and made eye contact with Charlotte instead of Chancey. She asked Charlotte how she liked the school and Charlotte answered that it was okay but she did not really know anybody yet.

Why don’t you come and sit with my friends and me at lunch today? I’ll introduce you around, she replied.

Thank you, I probably will, Charlotte answered.

Things got quiet then and Julamay felt the awkwardness of the silence. Chancey started making conversation with one of his little brothers about school. Julamay wondered if he would sit with her again as he did the day before.

When the bus pulled up Chancey stepped back and let the rest of them get on the bus before he did. He still had not looked at her and she felt her spirit sinking. She sat down in her usual seat and waited for him to get on with her heart in her throat. Finally, she felt the relief as he sat down beside her and gave her a wink.

Hey, Chancey, Sandra said, I was over at Julamay’s house yesterday and she was watching you out of her bedroom window.

Julamay turned around as her face turned red. I was not! I was just looking out the window and he happened to be out in the field. I can’t help it if I can see that field from my house.

I bet you were, too, Chancey said with a smile. Did you like what you saw?

Maybe I did and maybe I didn’t, she laughed.

When they got to Vernon’s house, she spoke to him as he walked by. He spoke back to her and tapped Sandra on the head with his notebook. Looks like I lost my seat to the new kid in town, he said jokingly as he went back to find a seat.

Is that your boyfriend? Chancey asked.

No, Vernon and I are really good friends. We’ve known each other since we were babies in the nursery at church. Our parents are good friends too, and we just always hung out together. I’ll introduce you to him when we get off the bus.

Vernon seemed to accept Chancey as soon as they met, and they started talking about the school’s basketball team. Vernon was on the team but had not seen much playing time the past basketball season. He asked Chancey since he was tall if he had ever played. Chancey told him that he liked to play but had never gone out for the team in his former schools. Daddy put up a goal for me in our yard. Why don’t y’all all come to my house Saturday and we will play. Sandra can come and she and Chancey’s sister and I will beat you two boys, Julamay said.

That afternoon as they got off the bus Chancey put his hand on Julamay’s arm and told her to wait a minute. He just stood there looking at her and she said, What do you want?

Wait until the bus gets on down the road, he answered.

One of his little brothers said, Come on Chancey. We’ve got to go home.

You all walk on down there. I’ll be there in a minute.

Then he leaned down and kissed her. It only lasted about three or four seconds, and when he pulled his lips away Julamay felt like she had never felt before. He smiled at her and just said Bye.

She smiled back, told him bye, and turned to walk up the drive. She felt so light headed and felt as if her feet were barely touching the ground. She was still smiling as she went in the back door to find her mother in the kitchen as usual, preparing their nighttime meal.

Well, you certainly look happy, dear, her mother said.

I do feel happy. Life is wonderful. Don’t you think so, mother?

Well, I certainly do. We have a nice life out here in the country. We have all this fresh air, a nice home, and plenty of homegrown food to eat. Your daddy is a wonderful man and you are the sweetest daughter anybody could ask for, her mother laughed. But you seem happier than usual. If I didn’t know better I would think you were in love.

‘Oh, Mama, don’t be silly, she laughed. I’m going up to my room and change my clothes. I might stay up there and study a while but when you need me, just call."

The next day was Friday and on the way home on the bus, Chancey asked Julamay if her parents would mind if he came up to see her for a while that night.

No, they won’t mind. They are always glad for my friends to come over, she replied.

While they were having their supper, she tried to say casually, That boy down the road is going to come up a while tonight and visit if it is alright with y’all. She felt she had blurted it out too abruptly as they both turned to look at her.

You mean he wants to come up here to see you or all of us? her mother said.

Oh, Mama, of course he is coming to see me. Why would he want to visit with you and daddy? She laughed.

Well, I guess it would be alright if he comes for a little while.

What’s a little while? You usually let my friends stay until at least 11 o’clock on Friday nights.

Of course he can come over, Julamay, her daddy said. We’ll be glad to have him.

They had barely finished cleaning up the kitchen when they heard a knock on the front door. Mr. Henley was already sitting in the living room listening to the radio, so he answered the door. Julamay and her mother walked in about the time Chancey stepped through the door.

Hi, Chancey. I think you already know my daddy. This is my mother. Mother, this is Chancey Perkins, Julamay said.

Julamay said to Chancey, Come sit down, and she walked over to the sofa. He sat down beside her and Mrs. Henley sat in the chair that was next to the sofa.

Mr. Henley looked at his wife and then sat back down in his chair.

How do you like living here on a farm? Mrs. Henley asked.

I really like it here. This is the best place we’ve lived in a long time, Chancey said as he turned and smiled at Julamay.

They carried on small talk for a while and then Julamay said, Daddy why don’t we get one of those televisions? Don’t you get tired of just listening to the radio? Sandra has had one for a while and Vernon’s folks just bought one. I don’t see why we can’t get one.

I just don’t know about putting one of those antennas on the house. Most people around here can’t get but one channel anyway. With the radio, we can pick up many stations. However, maybe I will think about it. Maybe we’ll get one for your Christmas.

They sat in silence for a while until