Pig Pickin' Time

[J. C. Beck]

Pig Pickin' Time

Part One: Me boy “Little Josh” - Class of 2012

By no means are the autumn breezes cool in Old Carolina so far. You can boil an owl on some days for sure. There are still a few hummingbirds, if the millions of crickets have not eaten them! Lately, there is the sound of woodpeckers just before the earlier sunsets, and the smell of three or four smokers, slow-cookin’ those pigs off in the distance.

Most late-afternoons the Smith brothers hang out near the back of the Stop & Go across the road. Wearing their familiar caps, cargos and flip flops (and seldom much more), they can mess around for hours, fussing over their pickups, burning something, smoking something, and generally eating something. And, there is very little sweet tea drinkin’ goin’on over there!

One, or another of their clan, always wins the Watermelon Eating Contest each midsummer. Most around here know that food is the major motivator for each of them, and if they are gonna do anything other than sit around, thinkin’ about what the next meal or snack ought to include. Plus—while the boys are not billed as a major “Attraction” by the town promoters of this annual festival, they draw huge crowds--- just to see how much bigger they have become since last year!!

“Little Josh” is my “favorite” of these laid-back, friendly good-natured cousins. In all, the guys number eight, and their ages range from 10 to 32-years of age. I taught 4 of them as seniors in several of my classes, and while they were attending the local high school. Josh is now “sweet”16!! He mows my grass every 4-5 days, and depending how much rain we get. I helped him buy his own JD tractor, and it is just one of his obsessions, I’d say!! “He’s like glue—when you finally get him to stick…” his mother always told me.

I see Josh almost every day. He is a “middle child”, and I doubt very seriously that he has ever received the amount --and kind-- of attention he strongly craves. It helps that I’m a good cook, and that we share an “interest” in good, home-cooked foods!!!

Although he is not always “sharp”, or even curious about many matters considered enormously “COOL” by most other boys his age, he is nonetheless insightful, while keeping many of his views hidden, calling them “TOTALLY private shit” as he aptly maintains. Of course, I agree—most of the time.

“We” are entirely “Old South” around these parts; we don’t want to become part of the BBQ.--- not ever!!

[gear134]

Well written, Jim. It sounds like it would actually take place down here in Mississippi haha.

[J. C. Beck]

Pig Pickin’ Time

Part Two: Cousin MIC

“OKAY—I think you do know why Josh ran outta here so soon, and why MIC is still out there, asleep in his truck! So, are you NOT tellin’ me?”

Sadly, it is all much too late, and perhaps beyond hope, past care, now!!

The dear one, the love of my life can be so bloody tiresome and obtuse some days. But, I am getting too far ahead in this story. And, some will only wish to know specific details anyway, well—the more aptly “INTERESTING” physical development of this clan, not so much their extraordinary sides, their “personal journeys” and their vital “transformation”: the growth of their emotional side, from childhood, to teenage, to manhood.

Few people will fail to notice MIC when he enters a room. Michael Inman Cato (MIC to all his bros and people around here alike) is stunningly handsome. But, his special appeal goes much further. It is not often, in my experience, that guys who weigh well over 300 pounds can break hearts, day after day. Anyway, I need not tell anyone here that Romantic notions are most often “built” on other sorts of men, who create rather different images, carved from a much “different” mold, some might say!!

Still—MIC can cause a great degree of sensuality and/or eroticism to arise even in the very dullest of those with whom he may inhabit a room.


--8—8—8—8—8—

“Hey—why is everyone lookin’ at me? Have yah never seen a football lineman before, or --like a really fat one?”

No, in fact they had not –even a few times-- seen someone like MIC, nor have I done. To this very day, he is still not fully aware of his very singular appeal to many people. His sort of charm is never boastful, always restrained, and now, aged 24-years, he comes across as nearly as “innocent” as they come. His “world”, to me, is almost unheard of, and that of his best mates, for whom a world of everyday pleasures, which appear to go on, and on, much as they did the day before, with equality, with ease and simplicity, can clearly astound, surprise and delight. He is VERY special. He is dearly special to me.

He strolled into class, late, red-faced, almost puffing, along with three of his team, on a FOOTBALL DRESS DAY. This was, now, almost six-years ago.

I am unaware of my facial expression at the time, but I can still—almost-- see the entire class, with their collective stares, with whispered comments, with their eyes following these guys—the four of them pushed, pulled and stuffed their bodies into the desk-chairs, which are not very comfy, I admit, for “average” people!!

So, after a few days, and remaining completely “professional” all the time on this, I moved them to other improvised desks and tables, those within an easy, unobstructed view for me!! Of course, being always democratic, I do this with ALL my students. Plus—I believe that “competition” ought always to be placed at some distance, and “less constructive” factions placed apart, and I fully did so. But, I could never quite bring myself to cover the windows in the door; guys coming by, seeking to peer in, looking for their girlfriends, often makes for more in the way of VARIETY in the day.

One should remember, who is a lover of all Arts, that Rodin’s “THE GATES OF HELL” inspired the further creation of his works: “THE THINKER” and “THE KISS”.

We shall keep this theme then, and attend results later on, when another “side” of MIC’s character will be revealed.

--8----8----8----8—



Anyway, my Drawing class gave more than full scope for many to document our new arrivals, and there were already sketches made on desks, inside textbook covers on the very first day of our meeting this crew. My students were, if nothing else, fully “creative” in ways not yet realized!! Later in the year, when we had begun LIFE class, studio sittings, which include posing by models, can you guess who was our first, if not most favored choice?

[Freecell5671]

My god. This is complex like James Joyce or Leo Tolstoy or something. You have so many different parts and characters already it is going to be like 100 parts. I like the Classical sculpture references too (Sophisticated things are awesome).

[J. C. Beck]

My god. This is complex like James Joyce or Leo Tolstoy or something. You have so many different parts and characters already it is going to be like 100 parts. I like the Classical sculpture references too (Sophisticated things are awesome).

Thank you for the remarks.

It will become "better" I think, and as you get to know the guys...

Ninety-five percent of it is REAL, and quite TRUE... As they say, write about what you know. I'm a READER, not so much a writer. ART is my background, along with US and UK social history, and cultural "issues", so-- a sort of "marriage" of all that.

I'm learning SOUTHERN CULTURE as I go along...

I enjoy it, and most aspects of living here now.

Since I always thought the American Southern writers were among the best, I prefer to keep my characters, I hope, out there...and as fully provocative as the likes of Faulkner and Capote. Sorta like looking through their bedroom windows, at times. :rolleyes:

Stay tuned-- may get down-right funny, if there are not reasons enough to laugh already! :cool:

[J. C. Beck]

Pig Pickin' Time

Part 3



MIC lay in this truck, driver's seat back, his belly wedged slam-up against the wheel. I've always wondered how people can do this, when falling asleep so completely, and soundly, is difficult for me-- drunk or sober!!

"It is said that too much drink will dull a man. Indeed it will, in a DULL man." (Henry Fielding, TOM JONES)

The moon was almost full and the stable lights cast a light that fell in sliver-like sections against his reclining body. He was sweaty and little bugs flew near his body in the humid, night air, so I thought we ought to move him for the remaining night hours into the stable. Benny seemed nowhere about at the moment and I would certainly need his help with this. Meantime, my body rested weary and limp against the truck and I felt warm and hard at the same time. For me, MIC's body was like an object for study, and my memory was jogged back several years, now. I pondered how massive his thighs had become compared to the day I first saw him. Since then, MIC and I have made a sort of "world" for ourselves; and, I am constantly amazed how he can read my thoughts, even finish my sentences at times for me. He'll never be --quite like—the partner, in truth, but still-- I WANT another kind of "partner" and so does he.

Then, as now, I have dreamt of his huge "tree trunk" limbs wrapped around me. How DID HE KNOW that it would affect me so much, THAT way? He always kids with we me too much, but his eyes see through me all the while, increasingly stoking our passionate friendship. He is completely SPECIAL to me.

Beautiful --A MALE PRINCE of a man-- his little golden hairs glistened in the light. YES sir-- he was always a "perfect picture" to me, and still is. But, where the f*** was Benny? It's way past my bedtime.

"Don't tell me you've been mucking about all this time with "YOUR" fat boys," the partner grumbled, as I came into our bedroom.

"Nahhh-- but let's not go into THAT, now!! I was helping Benny get MIC comfy, bedded down for the night."

"REALLY", the partner sighed, but I could tell he was actually thinking more of his feet, and about me doing a "lotion job" right now.

Getting into our "usual positions" I felt happy, and thankful, and hard AGAIN. His enduring warmth, constant and TOTALLY giving strength, it always assures me. His belly, as well, is another masterpiece of "our" world. I've always thought so. It seems to be reverting back-- a full thirty-odd years back, and to the stage when he was more stocky than round... I've NEVER been fussy however, and when it comes to what I call a “good” belly on a guy. Truth is best.

"I had the rest of your pie. Clearly your best this season!!" DJ said with his usual, impish grinning.

"Thought so, cus this guy seems DEEPER IN HERE, than before. I can always tell..."

[Freecell5671]

Beautiful --A MALE PRINCE of a man--

I wish you could be born a Prince in America :(

Again, this is going to be a looong story.

[J. C. Beck]

Yeah-- I think that is why so many grown men in America, and elsewhere still like "action toys", pulling down whatever levels of FANTASY they can...

I know how mine would look.

Hmmmm --- it might even be a great "make work" idea, but I do suppose some bank would aim to have same shipped off to China in some way, getting the (political) credit, collecting a few fees, and you know(!) Plus-- I think Beck was talking about similar one day... and then, all the CRY BABY shit happened!!

Cya my man-- take r easy, and have a good weekend...