Meet the Pritchetts!

photo by ana traina

I first met Wanda and Rufus Pritchett quite by accident, eight years ago on a bright Sunday afternoon, when I fell off my front steps. You see, I was in a hurry (why exactly, I can’t remember) none the less, I was carrying and burdened with six heavy bags to load the car with when I took that near fatal misstep. Now, while I was tumbling to the earth and as the multitude of garden and milk snakes slithered for their lives, I was struck with one thought, and one thought only, “You silly little__ asinine truffle, Never, Never, Never multitask!” 

As I laid on the stony ground watching the recently evicted snakes saunter back into my clapboard, I called out to my only companion, my very preoccupied seven year old son who was watching his favorite TV show at that time, whatever it might have been, Sponge Bob, probably.  Needless to say, he did not hear my cries for help! My right foot was rapidly swelling and turning varied shades of blue and purple. At that precise moment, I wanted nothing more then for that sponge to soak up and drown.

However, I painfully managed to get myself together and hobbled, no crawled over to the little quiet yellow log house across the way, to the Pritchetts whom I had yet to meet. I rang the door bell and was toute suite met by Wanda Pritchett, Rufus Pritchett and Speckles Pritchett their droopy eyed Beagle. Without any explanation of why I was ringing their doorbell, I was ushered into their living room and seated on Rufus’ lounge chair and given Tylenol and an ice bag. I didn’t stay long, just enough time for the pain relievers to kick in as I was worried about my son being alone in the house, of course his attention being elsewhere! As I tottered back home the loveliest feeling overcame me, I had made new friends. 

Over the years the Pritchetts and I have had long conversations standing by the side of the road on sunny days! They have given me very sound advice in regard to country life! Always clap or sing when you go into the forest so as to not happen upon a bear. Wild grapes are very good for making jam but you will need an old white pillowcase to strain them. If you can pull it out easily than it’s a weed. Boil up some garlic and cayenne pepper, and spray it on your plants to get rid of Japanese Beetles. 

Then one snowy day in February, only a few years ago, a wounded Wanda knocked on my door. And over a hot cup of Earl Grey tea, Wanda told me that her first born son Byron, had just died in a snowmobile accident. I didn’t know what to say, what I did know was that a couple of aspirins and an ice bag would never relieve this pain, so I just took her hand in mine and listened.

Recently as I was getting my mail, Wanda rode over on her lawnmower and asked me if I wanted to see her Corning Ware collection. Of course I did! 

photo by ana traina

Over apple cider donuts and coffee we talked about each piece and how she found them in different flea markets.

photo by ana traina

Then she showed me a picture of Byron! I was struck by how handsome he was and I could hardly imagined her daily suffering. Boldly I asked her how she was able to come to terms with it all. She looked me straight in the eye and said, “Ana, it’s hard, but I know there must be a reason.”  Surrounded by her durable army of red, blue and white highly break-resistant glass, with material capable of withstanding enormous variations in temperature, I empathically agreed.