Remembering Elaine Yates Jones and the Rhode Island Red rooster as told by Elaine.
In the mid 1940's we lived out in the country, and we had a yard full of chickens. My two first cousins, Nycie and Gloria often came to visit, and they were about 3 years old when this story unfolds. They had long, beautiful red hair. It was strange but-well, our old Rhode Island Red rooster did not like little red headed girls at all, and, upon seeing them, would come flying and chase them all over the yard. We had to guard the girls closely if they were anywhere outside. Mama was horrified and threatened to have him for supper one day! She said he was too old and tough though.
One lovely summer day a Mr. Nix drove up to our house in his beloved "Rolling Store". My sister, Helen, and I, loved to see him drive up, because he always had a piece of juicy fruit chewing gum for the children. We chewed that stick of gum for a week! It was a sight to behold! You name it-he had it. Mama was looking at all the merchandise and new gadgets when he showed mama a folding ironing board that struck her fancy. She wanted it but simply did not have quite enough money to purchase. Mr. Nix looked around the yard and spotted the mean old rooster, and mama thought he might want him so he said yes to the deal. The old truck had anything he might need to seal a deal.It even had a chicken coop! Mama got her ironing board, Mr. Nix made a sale, and everybody was happy, except the old rooster, but at least he was headed to a home without little red-headed girls around to bother him.
This story was written by Elaine Yates Jones and used in the 2012 Hillfire play, "A Stone's Throw Away. “She, like all of our cousins, was a beloved storyteller, and our gatherings were a time of love and laughter, with true accounts of life long ago in all families! Every story ended with, “Those were the good ole days"! Now, when we gather, this story of my aunt, Annie Dell Yates and the bad rooster, still comes up, but none of us could ever tell it like Elaine could. Elaine's interests were many and the arts program was one of her favorites. She was excited to attend our play, and was equally happy to see her cousin playing the part of her beloved mama.
"Having a place to go is a home.
Having someone to love is a family.
Having both is a blessing."
