Morning came with the sound of trains and coal dust in the air...and the children carrying their satchels to school, some with lunch, some with maybe an apple.
Jimmy sat in the principal's office long before any child sat in his classroom.
"Now, James, you must be patient with these younguns. Many haven't got much at home, so they don't have that fire the city boys do. Your job is to provide the basics and see to it that they get passed on to the next grade."
"What about the Morris boy?"
"Oh, I am fixin to get the law after them."
The law? Are you sure?"
"It's what we've had to do with more than few up Boggs Holler....and up Cottonmouth Creek.....and up the ridges where the lines don't go."
"You mean they don't have electricity?"
"Lots of them. They've never seen wire before. They go to town for dry goods, meat, and all, and they use the phone at the general store." The principal paused. "This may be the twentieth century, but up there, they're living like their grandparents did. You watch out for the mule, the horse, and the wagon."
"You want a real education? Come with me on a trip to Rinard's Ridge. Nobody up there lives like Democrats and Republicans."
"I have classes soon."
"We'll head up there before the children are dismissed. I'll have Miss Holly watch your class the last few minutes so we can beat 'em before they arrive."
James Neeley stood, shook Principal Gary's long, lean hand, and returned to his 6th grade classroom.
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