GRACE M. ROOD STORIES Billy and I Go To Asheville For Thanksgiving

Pine Mountain Settlement School
Series 09: BIOGRAPHY – Staff
Series 14: MEDICAL Grace M. Rood, Nurse, 1936-1962
Grace Margaret Rood (1897-1988)
GRACE M. ROOD STORIES
Billy and I Go To Asheville For Thanksgiving

GRACE M. ROOD Photograph Album Gallery One

The second Jeep. Grace M. Rood’s transportation. Grace Rood Album. [rood_048.jpg]

TAGS: Grace M. Rood, Asheville, North Carolina, Thanksgiving, nursing, nurses, vacations, lessons in gratitude, mountain driving,

GRACE M. ROOD STORIES Billy and I Go To Asheville For Thanksgiving

Since I have a long weekend at Thanksgiving, I plan to drive the 200 miles to my sister, Margaret’s for the holiday. I think it might be nice to have some company on the long trip and wonder if one of the [name] family twins (10-year-olders) would like to go. I take myself down to the road a mile and ask if [name] or Billy, would like to go along and help me on a long drive and stay a few days with my kinfolk in Asheville [NC]. Billy spoke up, ” I’ll go with you, a girl wouldn’t be much help on the road.” I looked at Billy, a little boy, small for his age, and thought, ” what help would he be in changing a tire on a jeep?” but it would be interesting to see his response to a big city compared to Little Harlan, Kentucky, So I agree. [name] sort of hides behind her mother’s skirts and doesn’t add any protest, so I agree. after telling them to have Billy ready by 4:00 on Wednesday, I leave. I also suggest that if Billy has a second shirt, to bring it along.

When I arrive on Wednesday, Billy is waiting for me on the porch, all washed up, face bright and shining, hair slicked back, shoes several sizes too large., clean khaki pants, and a paper bag in his hand. He just calls back into the house, “, I’m gone.” and runs to get into my jeep.

I might explain that Margaret [Grace Rood’s sister] has a husband, Miles, who is a minister. there are 3 children, Carolyn, 16, Betsy, 11, and Mark, [who] though only 7 is about as big as Billy, So I know that he will look out for Billy, for me.

When we stopped for gas, Billy pulls out his handkerchief, unties a quarter, puts it in the machine and gets a Coke out. I looked to see if he is going to put in another coin to treat me, but he is half-way down the bottle when the thought occurs to him, and he turns and asks, “Have a swaller, Miss Rood?” I decline, and he slowly empties the bottle and throws it in the trash can.

As we drive along, Billy sits quietly, but I can see that he is watching everything on the road. As it is getting dark, I spotted a Tourist Home with a restaurant nearby, and stop. I arranged to have a cot put in for Billy, and when I get out my billfold, Billy pulls out his handkerchief and says, “Let me pay, Miss Rood.” I declined his friendly offer as “This part is on me,” The dinner doesn’t offer much, but Billy nearly falls asleep over his bowl of soup.

I knew that Billy would not own pajamas, So I had worn an old blouse and skirt that I could rest in, and we were soon in our beds. In the morning, I was surprised to see a light covering of snow outside and a light mist falling. We hurried through a quick breakfast, got in the Jeep with its sides all hooked down and started out. My first look was at a long stretch of icy road, all uphill, up the mountain. Two or three cars were in the side ditches. I saw ahead of me a large truck and thought, “I guess. this little Jeep can make it, too.” So, I put the Jeep into 4 – wheel – drive [and] turned the speed down to low and started up [the mountain. The little mist had settled on the road and made it like a sheet of ice. As the truck ahead moved slowly, I also moved slowly, quietly up the hill. Billy was quiet. I wondered if he was frightened, but as I glanced over, I discovered that he was asleep. By the. time we had reached the top, the sun had come out; There were no more mountains to cross, so we arrived in time for the Thanksgiving dinner.

Billy is fully awake now, looking around and seeing everything. I don’t suppose he has ever been in such a big house before. Little Mark takes charge of him, shows him where he will sleep, how the toilet flushes, the hot and cold water spigots., how to put his coat on a hanger, and how to wash his face and hands before dinner. Billy is smart enough to watch what the others do. With the silverware, and is hungry enough to take care of the plate full of food that Miles has put before him. Mark took Billy to the basement playroom where ……

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…… he had a train and tracks and other toys, so they were happy for the rest of the day.

Saturday, there was a circus in town. It was not the well – known Barnum & Bailey, but we thought the boys might enjoy it, so I drove them down. Mark enjoyed it, asking the names of all the animals. Billy looked on, no expression on his face. When asked,” Isn’t that a big elephant?” His only answer was ” Yeah.” he just seemed awed at the whole thing. I wondered if we were confronting him with too much in such a short time, or if he was still half asleep.

Sunday was church. I can still see him, standing in front of the large church with its stained glass windows. People were going in. He just stood there while people walked around him. One lady was heard to remark, “We thought this building needed fixing up, but this small boy seems to think it’s perfect as it is.”

We left right after lunch, and arrived home just after dark. He quickly got out of the Jeep and rushed into his home. His mother asked, “Did you say ” thank you?” He ran back and mumbled, “Thanks.”

I wish that I could have gone in to hear what he told his family about the trip, but I was really tired and had to get home. I did not have any occasion to go down that road for many days.

END

SEE

GRACE M. ROOD Staff
GRACE M. ROOD Correspondence 1940
GRACE M. ROOD Correspondence 1962

GRACE M. ROOD PHOTOGRAPH ALBUM One
GRACE M. ROOD PHOTOGRAPH ALBUM Two

PINE MOUNTAIN SETTLEMENT SCHOOL COLLECTIONS

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GRACE M. ROOD STORIES Billy and I Go To Asheville For Thanksgiving

GRACE M. ROOD STORIES Billy and I Go To Asheville For Thanksgiving