Farmer Jim | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: Farmer Jim | Previous Challenge Entry
By Catharine Smith
08/04/08
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When I reflect on my childhood one memory jaunts me more than any other: a bridge which crossed over the railroad tracks in my small town in Georgia. The bridge had a self proclaimed keeper: Farmer Jim. Throughout childhood my parent’s instructions and directions were always geared towards the Bridge and Farmer Jim’s.

As a small child we would stop at Farmer Jims and I would usually wait in the car as she went in a purchased some fruits or vegetables. Occasionally I would see Farmer Jim run outside yelling at a child for being on the tracts. Once I saw a train stop as Farmer Jim approached the tracts. I was scared of Farmer Jim then and wondered why he yelled and how he stopped the trains.

My first known boundary was the tracts when mom finally allowed me, to walk with my best friend Sally, to watch the trains. I did not know how she knew but MOM always knew when my older brothers and sister crossed the boundary so I never dared tried. I would fork over my weekly quarter to Sally; my best friend, who was allowed to go over the tracks, and await the treasure of a bottle of pop and a small bag of fireballs, candy bars and gum, all that a quarter would buy.

I will never forget my 10th birthday when my mother allowed me to go to Farmer Jims Store all by myself. Bursting with pride I went in the store, Scared until he kindly reached over the counter, welcomed me into his store; and helped me make my selections dropping in a surprise Jaw breaker. For the rest of Farmer Jims Life I am happy to say he was one of my dearest and most loyal friends.

Only now; years later do I realize how much those little doses of wisdom and faith, throughout adolescence from Farmer Jim helped shape who I am today. He was not just the kind man who owned the Mom and Pop store; he was the Keeper of the bridge. He watched and protected all the boys and girls over the years who walked across that bridge.

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