Foothills Digest Fall 2017

American Honor Ale House Appalachian Mountain Brewery Basic Brewery
americanhonoralehouse.com amb.beer www.basicbrewery.com
131 3rd Avenue West
883 Highland Ave. SE 163 Boone Creek Drive Hendersonville, NC 28792
Hickory, NC 28602 Boone, NC 28607

Beech Mountain Brewing Company Blowing Rock Brewing Boonedocks Brewing
beechmountainresort.com/mountain/brewery blowingrockbrewing.com www.boondocksbeer.com/

1007 Beech Mountain Parkway 152 Sunset Drive 108 S. Jefferson Ave
Beech Mountain, NC 28604 Blowing Rock, NC 28605 West Jefferson, NC 28694

Booneshine Brewing Catawba Brewing Co Flat Top Brewing
booneshinebeer.com 212 South Green Street flattopbrewing.com
246 Wilson Drive Suite L Morganton, NC 28655
catawbabrewing.com 567 Main St. E
Boone NC 28607 Banner Elk, NC 28604

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Foothills Brewing Fonta Flora Brewery Granite Falls Brewing Co
foothillsbrewing.com fontaflora.com granitefallsbrewing.com
47 Duke Street
638 W 4th St 317 N. Green Street Granite Falls, NC 28630
Winston-Salem, NC 27101 Morganton, NC 28655

Loe’s Brewing Company Lost Province Brewing Co Newgrass Brewing Co
loesbrewing.com lostprovince.com newgrassbrewing.com
130 N. Depot St
1048 Harper Ave NW Boone, NC 28607 213 S Lafayette St
Lenoir NC 28645 Shelby, NC 28150

Olde Hickory Brewery Sanctuary Brewing Company Southern Appalachain Brewery
oldehickorybrewery.com sanctuarybrewco.com sabrewery.com
147 1st Ave E 822 Locust St
222 Union Square
Hickory, NC 28601 Hendersonville, NC 28792 Hendersonville, NC 28792

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Honor Ale House

The New River Trail

57 Miles of Bike Trails follow an abandoned
Norfolk Southern rail line through

beautiful mountain wilderness.

It’s so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the modern
world. It’s important that we take the time to quiet our minds and to
reconnect with nature. North Carolina offers so many opportunities
to do this, and a good many of them are right in our own back yards.
The New River Trail is one of these. This winding route is gentle,
not requiring steep climbs or descents. The trail follows the south
fork of the New River and offers excellent views. Ashe County’s lush
vegetation is on display along the path of Railroad Grade Road. No
hike or ride in Ashe County would be complete without Christmas
trees or quilt squares, and you’ll see both on this trip. You can even
rent a bike at River Girl Fishing Company. Follow the trail into Virginia
for a full-day adventure. You’ll encounter hikers and bikers, and they

are usually the friendliest of folks.

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We See What We Want To See

The Henry River Mill Village

Photography by Clayton Joe Young

We S e e What We Want to S e e is a new b o ok ab out the Henry River Mill
Village. The mill village sits just off I-40 in Hildebran and is steeped in
history. The mill village has been abandoned for decades, and the dilapidated
houses, along with the country store, have a tendency to inspire creativity.
The site was even the setting for the blockbuster movie Hunger Games.
The book includes history, photography and poetry, and endeavors to encapsulate
what makes the area so special. The book is brought to you by Redhawk Publishing
and is a collaboration betwe en Tim Pe eler, Kelly Carroll and Clayton Joe Young.
Exciting new plans for the space are in the works, and Foothills Digest will
cover the renovations and keep you informed of all of the exciting new changes!

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Rocking Chair
Theater

Daddy’s chair
The concrete porch
The kicked in door

The last curve
Before the bridge
Where daddy watched
Seventy-five years
Of cars and trucks

Weave through
Or the country
Watched them come and go
Watched kids grow up and leave
Listened to the music
Of tires and engines
Watched the leaves green
Then yellow then brown

Then fall
Then green again.
Daddy departed,

The wind
Still rocks his chair.

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Daddy’s Restless World

Nothing tells me the world
I s u p s id e d o w n l i k e mama’s
Yellow kitchen chair on
D a d d y ’s p o k e r p o rch
Setting there in front
Of the only fancy screen
Door in the whole hill
And we know that daddy
And all them boys sat
On stacks of dope crates
They poached from the mill
And mama would a never
Let her bean stringing chair
Her kids’ barber chair
Her better tell the truth
When she set you there
Chair cross the threshold
To D a d d y ’s re s t le s s world .

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111

David Zealy-Wright is a Licensed Professional Counselor,
a Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist, and a Clinical
Supervisor Intern. He graduated from Catawba Valley
Community College in 2005 earning an Associate in
Arts, Lenoir-Rhyne University in 2008 earning a BA in
Psychology, and in 2010 an MA in Agency Counseling. His
specialty areas include addiction, depression, anxiety, life
changes, men’s issues, relationships, and LGBTQIA issues.

DEAR DAVID,

I am a public school educator and have been for twenty years. I have seen a tremendous shift in
accountability as have many of my colleagues. In the past, students were held accountable for
incomplete work and behavior issues but more and more the parents blame us, the educators, when
students do not perform well. I am frustrated and looking for ways to encourage parents to hold their
children accountable without creating additional conflict.
Sincerely,
Tired Teacher

Dear TT,
First and foremost, allow me to empathize with what must be an incredibly frustrating situation. As
a therapist I am often faced with client’s that struggle with being accountable for their own choices
and decisions. I would encourage you to avoid getting defensive and try to focus on collaboration and
putting the ball back in the parent’s court. For example, when a parent is upset with you for holding a
student accountable for behavior issues or incomplete work perhaps try asking what works for them
at home when the student doesn’t listen or complete chores. I think it is even appropriate to remind
parents of the value of learning coping skills for the world of work once they leave school. After all,
an employer is not going to discuss potential termination or disciplinary action with someone’s parent
before taking action.

DEAR DAVID,

Every year I dread fall and winter thanks to my seasonal depression. I want to avoid medications given
that it doesn’t really affect me in warmer months and I prefer a more all natural approach. What kind
of things would you recommend?
Woes in the winter

Dear WITW,
Let me encourage you to make an appointment with your primary care provider and possibly a
therapist to help assess your specific concerns appropriately. As far as general recommendations often
times seasonal depression can come down to basic brain chemistry. We tend to move less, eat more
carbs and refined sugars, and get less sun thus producing less of our “positive” neurotransmitters and
relying more heavily on a limited energy source. Some excellent interventions I have seen in the past
are a lower carbohydrate diet, increased cardiovascular exercise, and light therapy. Light therapy
lights simulate the sun without the cancer causing rays in a compact device that is compact enough
for an office. There are also natural supplements like St John’s Wort that you could consider but make
sure it is from a reputable source. There is no shame in asking for help, no shame in taking medication,
and I am sure there are many more out there that are afraid to ask this same question. Thank you for
reaching out!

Sincerely,
David Zealy-Wright LPC, LCAS

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At Grayson Highlands, wild ponies
graze near the hiking trails.
Photo courtesy of Kelsey Crowe.

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foothills astrologer

Astrology is the study of the relationship between the location of celestial bodies and life
on earth. It’s incredibly complex, but most of what you see in magazines and newspapers
is predominantly fluff. Astrology looks at the placement of the planets at a person’s birth,
and also the current or future placement of planets. Typical reports like these would include
a simple paragraph for each of the 12 signs-there isn’t enough room to provide helpful
information in that format. Instead, I’ll explain only the current placements. What you read
will be felt by everyone, so your sign doesn’t matter here. For info about your natal chart, or
for custom horoscopes, email [email protected].

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Mercury Mars is in Libra, but the debates
are cool-headed and feel pleasant.
October 17: enters You may notice a bit more passive
aggressiveness during this time,
Scorpio. The way we think and talk especially in people who have a
becomes more probing, intense, even challenging natal Mars placement.
smoldering. Mercury is coming from
Libra, where our thoughts went to October 23:
balance and fairness. Now, we are
looking for truths that are hidden-we Sun enters Scorpio. This is probing,
realize life isn’t fair, and we are all revelatory. Sun is scorpio always
wanting to probe everything-search feels transformative. It’s a great
for motivations. We are connected time to dig into yourself a little,
to the profound and small talk will figure yourself out, so that your
become uninteresting. Focus is key uniqueness will shine. Secrets will
and intelligence is sexy. be more interesting to everyone.
Scorpio drips with desire, so this is
October 19: New a good time to sort out what you
Moon want in many areas of life.
at 26 Libra. New moons are the best
times to begin projects. This is the November 3:
time to set intentions. What do you
want to accomplish in the next 6 Saturn square Chiron. Many people
months? will be feeling afraid, especially
that they won’t be able to meet
The new moon has the Sabian their responsibilities head on. We
Symbol “AN AIRPLANE SAILS, HIGH may feel like we are falling short.
I N T HE C L E AR SK Y. ” We sho ul d We will feel like we need to break
consider Sabian Symbols a riddle, free from societal limitations, but
and think about how they apply to like we don’t know how to do that.
our lives. This particular one is often We should look now at what makes
interpreted to be about looking us feel vulnerable.
at the stress of our lives from a
different, farther out angle. Think November 4:
about how that image applies to any
new projects you are beginning now. Full moons are times of harvest.
Taurus is pragmatic, earthly, and
A new moon means that the sun and grounded. This full moon is a
moon are in the same degree of the good time to reconnect to the
zodiac, and on this day, they are also earth. Taurus rules money and
both opposite Uranus. Uranus is the prosperity, and this is an excellent
planet of rebellion, and this ties a time to spend money on something
good bit of rebellious energy to the that feels good to you. It’s easy
sun and moon. Creativity, innovation to feel the truth that money is
and impulsiveness will be felt by e n e rgy u n de r th is fu ll moon . Ta urus
everyone. Mercury is also conjunct is not flashy but is steady and
Jupiter at this point, which elevates expressive. Also, call your mom,
everyone’s reasoning ability. grandma or your kids-Taurus rules
our rootedness and moon rules our
October 22: Mars emotions and connection to the
Libra. Mars will bring our fiery enters feminine. It will feel good to make
that connection.
passions, our anger and our
excitement to a place of balance November 5:
and fairness. This sometimes cools
the passions and angers, and always Mercury enters Sagittarius. Where
softens it a bit. Everyone will be we wanted to uncover secrets last
more charming, and everyone will
be better at seeing multiple sides week, now we want to lear n a li1t1tl5e
of a subject. People do tend to get
into intellectual debates more when

about a wide range of topics. November 22:
We are happier, and more full of
faith. We are again concerned with Neptune turns direct-Neptune has
fairness. been in retrograde, which means
that we were all more intuitive than
November 7: normal. It’s important that we pay
attention to problems we noticed
Venus enters Scorpio-If you’re when Neptune was retrograde-
in a relationship, hold on to now that it has turned around, the
your hat. Venus represents our problems you intuited are likely
loving energy, and scorpio is to turn into actual problems if you
intense, all or nothing. This makes don’t deal with them.
relationships very up and down
during this period. Everything is December 1:
very hot-tempers and passions,
and surface level flirtations simply Venus enters Sagittarius. This is
won’t do. Relationship thoughts certainly more fun for relationships.
seem all consuming now. It’s a pleasant time, because gone
is the “all or nothing” feeling that’s
November 11: been in the air. This is time for
broad romantic gestures and for
Saturn trine Uranus-this is an enjoying each other.
excellent time to make positive
changes in your life. The rebellious December 2:
nature of Uranus is attached to the
steady energy of Saturn, making Jupiter trine Neptune. Magic is in
transitions smoother than they the air. This is expansion and good
would normally be. It’s such a good luck slamming into spirituality,
time to combine innovation and religion, mysticism and creativity.
tradition. Matters of the church and occult
will be on people’s minds.
November 18:
December 3:
New Moon in Scorpio. the sun and
moon have joined together at the Mercury turns retrograde. Mercury
26th degree of Scorpio. The Sabian retrogrades get a lot of bad press,
Symbol is: A MILITARY BAND but they aren’t the end of the
MAR C H E S N OI SI LY ON THROUGH world. I know they aren’t because
THE CITY STREETS. This seems they happen four times each year.
to be about obnoxiously pushing While Mercury is retrograde, you
culture on others. This symbol is may experience some problems with
about “pomp”. Since new moons communication, and electronics
are times of setting intention, have a tendency to break. It’s a
think about what intentions are great time to do “re” words like
being set today, especially around review, rewind, relax, and renew.
the notions of patriotism or
nationalism. December 3:

November 21: This full moon should bring wild
energy, radical enthusiasm, and
Sun enters Sagittarius. During unpredictable activity. It’s making
the next month, we should feel some key contacts with Orcus
the collective consciousness shift and Neptune, locking the three
toward connection, reaching out to energies in an intense swirl. Orcas
things larger than ourselves. This is energy is about judging right from
a month for big pictures. wrong, while Neptune highlights
our intuition. Moon represents our
116 emotions and softer side, and these

three energies are strongly combined December 18:
this day.
New Moon 26 Sagittarius.This new
The Sabian for this full moon is “A moon has the Sabian “A sculptor at
black girl fights for her independence his work.” This is a very positive
in the city.” Remember that these are Sabian for a New Moon, which is the
riddles we must consider. This one time to plant seeds, start projects,
speaks of civil rights and the fight. This and begin. It’s about our ability
is about being liberated from the ghosts to create what we are imagining,
of our past, and everyone should feel and it’s a strong sign that our new
this energy. projects will be successful.

On this day there is also a sharp December 19:
collection of energies from Ixion,
Satur n, Pholus, Mercury, Quaoar, Saturn enters Capricorn. Saturn is at
Uranus, Pallas and Vertex. It’s very its strongest in Capricorn. Both deal
unusual for so many energies to be with age, experience, responsibility,
linked in one shape, but these represent and things that are built to last .
the destruction of what isn’t useful, Satur n has two sides, generally…it’s
restrictions and responsibility, explosive the responsible father, but also the
energy, communication, genius, thing that restricts, keeps us away
rebellion, strategy and good luck. from our desires. But Capricorn
doesn’t have that negative side,
This day has potential to shake up the and when Saturn is in Capricorn, it’s
world. There may be racial issues that more positive traits are easier to
come to the forefront, but everyone access. Capricorn forces a positive
will find it easier to see out-of-the-box expression of Saturn, and we will all
solutions, and people will feel a bit be working hard when this transit
riled up. rolls around.

December 5: Chiron December 21:
turns
Direct. Chiron is a small body that has Sun enters Capricorn. The sun joins
been effects here on earth. Chiron Saturn, and our focus shifts toward
represents our wounds and healing-it’s responsibility, respect for authority,
the childhood memory that scarred you, and completion. Working towards
the one that you think about when you your biggest goals will feel good
can’t sleep. But it also holds the secret now and will likely be successful.
for healing that wound, and for healing
others. It spends half it’s time in December 25:
retrograde, but the days when it turns
are often felt by everyone. If you feel Venus enters Capricorn. Now Venus,
yourself being focused on old wounds which is our sense of beauty, our
this day, it’s ok. Poke around at them a love life, and our soft side, is
little, because it will be easier to heal connected to a very responsible and
t o d a y. enduring place. It will be easy to
get serious about our finances and
December 9: Mars also getting along with coworkers
enters (or family-great, since you’re likely
Scorpio. Scorpio holds the “I desire” visiting yours around this time.) Our
energy of the zodiac, and Mars is driven artistic energy is also amplified. It’s
and focused on it’s goals. When Mars is a great time to paint a picture. We
here, we are strong and single minded value the reliable, faithful people in
towards our goals. This is an excellent our lives more now.

time to make progress on personal
projects, or to go after the things you
are wanting.

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Grit Boy

by JA Hoke

Our downtown was small, a four-block Main It as from Pop that I wanted to be in business. I
street separating facing buildings, railroad saw the respect everyone had for him when he
tracks parallel to the south. The railroad repaired a vacuum cleaner or a small engine. I
tracks also marked the beginning of the poor saw how relieved they were when he came to
black part of town—the part I lived in. To the their house and repaired a washing machine for
north was where the white people lived, and 2% of what a new one cost.
regardless of their wealth, or lack of, they were Even at 13 years old, I knew that capitalism—
seemingly better off than we were. At least if done right—would bring people together.
according to my parents and grandparents. Dr. King had proven in the bus boycotts that
My pop and grandpop claimed we couldn’t money is green.
hide our poverty, even when we had money In 1973, from the back of a comic book, I’d
in the bank. No currency bought white skin in ordered a Grit Newspaper starter kit. I was 12
1974. and wanted a little more money than what my
But to me life seemed less sinister and more father paid me cleaning vacuum hoses and the
bright than the way my parents saw it. floors of the shop after school. “Earn $1 to $6 a
My father had a small appliance repair in week Sell GRIT in your spare time.”
downtown since 1968, which meant that I I’d seen the Grit paper before at my grandma’s
was recognized by downtown merchants as a house. It was filled with recipes and suggestions
“good boy” and my father “one of the good for planting gardens, news about interesting
ones.” Pop ran a good shop, did good work, things. It had been started in 1882 and called
charged fair prices, and even though he often itself “America’s Family Newspaper.”
found prejudice in certain words and actions, I asked grandma why there was no black people
his business fed us and he traveled each day in the paper, but she told me to hush and read
across the tracks, opened a business among the comics. “Stop looking for hurt,” she said.
white businesses, and interacted with them Now I was looking for ways to make extra cash
every day without a problem. and the ad promised 7 cents profit on every

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paper sold. I cut out the coupon and about two Crazy people are best left alone.
weeks later, I received a manila envelope with all My father would not allow me to go into
the information needed to get 25 free copies of Burt’s Bar and Grille. “It’s too dangerous,”
Grit: America’s Number One Family Newspaper he said. “Drunken white people and colored
to sell. They even sent a canvas bag to carry people do not mix. Drunk white people are
them in and an official salesman pin. mean. They’re mean deep down anyway,
My intention was to peddle these papers Dean, but when they get drunk, all that Civil
downtown with my pop’s store being my ground War stuff comes up and afore you know it,
zero. you’re either on the floor getting kicked or
I was clearing $30 a week at seven cents a paper you’re doing the kicking from a rope.”
profit in only a month’s time, but it was the tips Those images scared me for about two
that created the actual size of the revenue. minutes. The drunk people I’d met were
The paper was twenty cents a copy but people almost always black. And if white people
would give me a quarter almost every time. Some could be angry about the past, black folks
people would even give me extra pennies from could too. Seemed to me that alcohol
their pockets with the quarter, all of it adding up. made anyone who drank it angry about the
They called me “Grit Boy” and the appellation past, but I still stayed away from Burt’s.
didn’t bother me. I ignored condescension when However, Burt always found me.
it arose, but the majority of the folks downtown Burt was a woman—a big lady—as wide
were nice to me—respectful and helpful—and as she was tall, blond hair mashed under
there were times I forgot that I was black in the a hairnet, teal uniform, with a stained
1970s in the North Carolina foothills. apron, white shoes like a nurse wears. I’d
The merchants looked for me every Tuesday, as see her between 2 and 4 pm almost every
did lots of people on the streets in town. They’d day during summer, walking from the alley
whistle for me, holler at me—“Hey, Grit Boy! behind her Bar to either the Woolworth’s or
Paper here!”—handing me dollars which I would McClellan’s Five-and-Ten. She’d sit at the
change from the change machine on my belt, store’s lunch counter and drink cola and
purchased with prize points from the slick Grit eat. Odd that she cooked in a bar bit ate
Magazine we’d get once a month, complete with liver and onions at the Woolworth’s lunch
pictures of white faced boys from across America counter.
who’d won bikes and record players. I loved the Every so often she’d see me, holler “Grit
sound of that changing machine, and I knew the Boy! C’Mere!” and I’d pretend not to
levers by heart, thumbing out three quarters and hear, go out the door into the humidity.
a nickel change, often putting the tipped nickel However, she’d sometimes corner me in
back, sometimes a quarter, sometimes nothing, a store or even by the Coke machine by
often a “thank you.”. the pharmacy. “Hey, howabout bringing
Sometimes people looked at me, but more often me one of them Grit papers ever time you
than not, they looked at the canvas bag around get one?” She’d buy one and I’d promise
my shoulder, the paper as I handed it to them, to come see her, and then I’d never go
their change purse as they fingered change for because of the fear of the drunken Civil
the twenty cents. I didn’t take offense at it. I War Confederate soldier lynching me.
think they were maybe ashamed at something One bright August day, the sun high in a
they ought not to be. Me, I was interested in Carolina blue sky, Burt caught me buying a
delivering a product that they enjoyed, and I Cheerwine from a drink machine near the
didn’t care who bought it. Money is green. Deluxe Barbershop.
I was Grit Boy and at about $120 a month in “I’m thinking you’re scared a me,” she said.
profit, I was going to become Rich Boy. “You won’t come see me even though I’d
The businesses downtown didn’t seem to buy your wares.”
mind my peddling the paper to them and their I looked at the ground and felt kind of bad.
customers. Only two places were off limits: The tenor in her voice sounded as though
The hobby store, run by a mean old man who she was hurt, not mad. It reminded me of
hated children but had decided selling toys, the way my mother sounded when she
model cars, and GI Joe was the best vocaion, talked about Jesus and everything He went
and Burt’s Bar and Grille, where beer was sold. through.
Old man Steen who owned the hobby store ran “Uh, “ I stammered, “No ma’am. I just ain’t
me off the very first time I’d went into his store, allowed to go in a Bar. My pop won’t let
screaming, “Get outta here! You stay outta my me.”
store! You don’t sell in here!” So, I stayed out.
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She laughed. “Kid, I sell more hamburgers please!” he said.
and hot dogs with onions than I do beer,” James, the black man who worked for Burt,
she said. placed a full bottle in front of the guy, who
“Pop says that there’s drunk people in there, handed James a dollar from the pile. “Gimme
and—“ my change and keep ‘em coming, James!” He
“Ain’t no drunks allowed to hang around my grinned. “You need to come to work for me,
place, “ she said. “Me or James chuck ‘em James. You’re wasted here.”
out. Do you know James? He’s colored too. “Quit trying to steal, James!” Burt yelled from
He cooks for me, cleans up, washes dishes.” the back. “You got your own slaves.”
She said it like me and James had a common Money Man shook his head. “No, Burt, not
ailment and that him working for her meant slaves. Hard workers. Hardest workers I’ve ever
that I should probably work for her too. I seen,” he said.
was thankful she didn’t ask me if I knew him. “’Hard workers’!” she said. “James grabs sit-
White people seem to think all black people down time ever chance he gets.”
know one another. I’ve often thought maybe James rang the register and put a quarter on the
white people all know each other too. table, his lips tight as though working to keep
“You don’t have to worry about that, Grit words inside his mouth, words he knew that
Boy,” she said. “Give me a paper.” must never, ever come out. Storing them under
I pulled one out of the bag, passed it to his tongue, hoping that there would always be
her as she handed me two quarters. “I’ll room for them there.
give you that same amount each week for Money Man said something to James I couldn’t
a paper. You bring it to the café. I’ll bet you hear, and James’ face tightened a bit more. He
sell a few more to some of the customers. disappeared to the kitchen.
And I might even give you a candy bar, too. Burt saw me through the window to the kitchen.
If you’re sweet.” “C’mere, Grit Boy! You bring my paper?” I
I was still scared to go in there, but I knew stopped at the counter. “C’mon into the kitchen!
that if I didn’t, I’d just keep running into Burt I don’t bite.”
and making excuses.
So the next week, at the end of the route, I I wasn’t so sure. I went to the end of the bar
stopped by Burt’s Bar and Grille. and walked into the kitchen. Burt was perched
It was dark and greasy in there at 5:30 pm. I on a wheeled stool in front of the grill. She
counted about fourteen guys sitting around rolled over to me, pushing herself with one
the bar and in various booths. My grandfather foot. I reckoned that she must zoom around the
taught me that I should always count the kitchen on that stool all day long like a weeble
number of white people when I entered a alight a skateboard. She grabbed the offered
place that belongs to them. I hadn’t realized paper, handed me two quarters, and threw me
until that moment that I’d learned to do it a kiss. “I just love you. Thanks for bringing Old
second nature. I didn’t care for things that Burt a paper. See you next week.”
become second nature. Business seems to I turned, went around the bar and toward the
not like “The Same.” I’d already learned door. I felt eyes on me this time, eyes I hadn’t
in a year that improving service and one’s felt coming in. I opened the door and the bell
product is the key to success. Business has above my head rang clear, the heat from outside
no room or respect for “tradition” or the fussing with the air conditioning inside.
“same old, same old.” “Hey!”
All of the men looked alike to me, middle I stopped. Heat, cool. Bell jingling.
aged, dressed in different outfits from shirts “Hey! Bring me one of them papers!”
and ties to jeans and shirts with their names I looked. It was Money Man. Aloft in his the
stitched on them. Sam. Robbie. Earl. My fingers of his right hand was a dollar bill. I
father’s name is EarlI, I thought. This white took three steps, pulled a paper from my bag,
man has my Pop’s name. I wondered if he has changed it for the dollar, went to the change
kids. I wondered if his kid read the comics I machine on my belt.
read. “Keep it!”
The stand out in the crowd was a younger
man with a scowl, staring ahead, a pile of
dollar bills mixed in front of him. Also sitting
on the table were six empty beer bottles.

1 2“0Hey! James, bring me another beer,

I nodded, stumbled a bit, stepped back, pulled at Frozen water plunged my bowels making
the door. Jingle, heat, cool. them feel loose. “Uh oh.”
“Hey!” “Yeah,” father said. “Uh oh.”
I looked. Money Man again. “What am I going to do?” I asked. “I can
“Give that guy one of them papers!” give him his money back.”
I couldn’t really see at whom he was pointing. I “You can. But I’d try and stay outta that
pointed at a balding guy whose back was to us in area. Keep low the next couple weeks,” he
a booth. said.
“Yeah, him!” He held aloft another dollar. “Keep I was scared and mad. Scared of running
it!” into a sober, mad white guy who might
I went to the balding guy’s booth. “He bought you want more than his 15 bucks back, but
a paper.” He took it and didn’t even look back at mad at myself for not realizing what was
Money Man. happening at Burt’s Bar and Grille. I’d let
I went toward the door again. Jingle, heat, cool. my fear and greed overwhelm me and now
“Hey!” I was in an unenviable position.
Again. “Give that feller one of them papers!” For the next month, I ran my route. Literally.
He pointed to a red haired man at the bar, who If bikes had been allowed on the town’s
happened to be looking at me as though I’d poison sidewalks, I’d have delivered my Grit that
him if I touched him. I offered Red the paper, he way. I avoided Burt’s Bar and Grille and Burt,
took it, and I took the proffered dollar from Money hiding in alleys, behind drink machines,
Man, who said, “Keep it!” and even in the backseat of a DeSoto when
Not to bore, but Money Man bought a dozen I saw her coming.
more 20 cent papers for a total of 15 and told me One afternoon, as the cooler air of fall
to “Keep it!” every time. pushed the humidity of summer lower, I
The last time, I showed him the empty bag, which took an alley shortcut called “Bisener’s
he stared into with red eyes. “Sold out! Gone!” he Squeeze” to get to Main Ave from second
said. street alley. The “Squeeze” was a three-
And so was I. I opened the door so fast the bell foot wide opening between two buildings
danced from its string and hit the floor as the door that adults turned sideways to navigate. If
closed. I took off toward my father’s store, pocket one were too fat or too tall, one couldn’t
stuffed with cash. get through The “Squeeze” without, well,
I told my father what happened and he looked at squeezing. We kids could walk through it
me as though I was one of the dummies that sat fine, but grownups usually avoided it.
upon a ventriloquist’s knee, his face a combo of I was halfway through the redbrick
amazement and exasperation. claustrophobia of The “Squeeze,” when a
“Didn’t I tell you to stay out of that Bar? You cannot grown man entered it from Main Ave. I had
trust--Son, what you going to do when that man to quickly back out. I was skinny enough to
sobers up and wonders where 15 of his dollars got turn, especially when I saw who it was.
to?” Money Man.
I shook my head. I was going to say that he spent He saw me.
it buying Grit for everyone except the mayor, but “Hey!”
my father went on. I got ready to run, but my canvas bag got
“What you going to do when them other men tell caught on a gas meter and I went sprawling,
him that he spent 15 of his dollars with the colored elbows and knees akimbo as Money Man
Grit boy?” came out of the crack of the squeeze,
I was at a loss. It was a business transaction, leaning over me, offering his hand.
nothing more. Like the other people on my route, I ignored it, got up, thought about running,
he’d bought papers. A product. He said to “keep but my bag was still hooked to the meter
it” with each dollar. and I didn’t want to risk tearing it.
“You reckon that man,” my father said, “Might Money Man reached and unhooked it.
come a looking for his 15 dollars?” “There you go. Hey, you’re Grit Boy. Give
me one of them papers.” He reached in his
pocket, pulled out a dollar.

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I handed him the paper, sweat burning my eyes,
fear spreading like fire. I took the dollar, folded it
into my pocket.
“Keep the change, Grit Boy,” he said. And
winked. “This is a good paper. I like this paper,”
he said. “It sells good, don’t it?”
I nodded, wishing I had a rag to wipe the sweat
from my face and arms. I don’t know why I was so
afraid. He was doing nothing to make me afraid.
It’s almost like my fear was second nature.
“Had nothing like this to make money on when I
was a kid,” he said. “Worked on my daddy’s farm
for my food and bed, a place to lay my head.
Later, I started a car washing business. Did pretty
good.”
I nodded.
“Ya’ll are real lucky, you young’uns. Ya’ll got lots
of opportunity we didn’t have.”
“Yes, sir,” I said.
“You sell this here ever week?”
I thought he meant the alley, but said, “Yes, sir.
Here in town. Every week. Yes, sir.”
“I own the carwash over on 7th,” he said.
I knew the place. Nice and new. Lots of people
from the neighborhood worked there. According
to my father, the owners treated employees well.
“Can you bring me one of these ever week?”
“Yes, sir, I be glad to.”
“And you keep working hard. Stay organized.
Don’t waste a dime. You’ll be rich one day,” he
said. “Bye now.”
I nodded. Turned to go.
“Hey!”
I turned.
“Stay away from beer, too. Grit Boy. It might be
good for Bert’s business, but it ain’t good for
yours.”
I nodded, suddenly ashamed I was afraid of this
man. I felt kind of…glad to know him.
“And when you’re too old to sell Grit papers,
come see me. You’ll make a hell of a car wash
manager one day.”
“Or owner,” I said.
He smiled, nodding. “Or owner.”
I took off up the alley, proud of myself and my
town. Heck, my country. I had Grit papers to sell
and everyone in my town depended on me.

122

CONTRIBUTORS

Robert Canipe
Carol Ann Crocker

Kelsey Crowe
CVMC

Heather Wood Davis
Granny Eckard
Richard Eller
Hannah Grace
JA Hoke
Ashley Kirby
Cliff Moone
Arlene Neal
Beth Rogers

James Thomas Shell
Kellie Stamey
Jeffrey Wilhelm
Soloman Yang
Pete Zagaroli
Cecily Zagaroli

David Zealy-Wright
With thanks to:

Robert Oren Eades
and Patrick Jean

123

Fog rolls through a field on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

124

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Sunset on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Photo by Craig Zerby

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129

What do these Awards
really mean to You and
Your Community Hospital?

For the sixth consecutive year, Catawba Valley Medical Center has been
named a recipient of the Women’s Choice Award as one of America’s 100
Best Hospitals for Patient Experience.Also, for the fifth consecutive year, a
recipient of America’s Best Hospitals for Obstetrics.This Women’s Choice
Award identifies the nation’s best healthcare institutions measured against
the needs and preferences of women, providing her the opportunity to
identify which hospitals deliver the quality patient experience she seeks for
her and her family, and for her birthing experience.

These credentials signify Catawba Valley Medical Center’s commitment and
passion towards an extraordinary healthcare experience for all patients,
and are further examples of the many ways we’re working to improve the
health of our community.

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130 Catawba Valley Medical Center does not discriminate on the basis of sex, age, national origin, disability, or race in its health programs.
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