Rastus, a real boy

 

In my early years of chalk drawings and chalk talks my most requested program was about a little boy named Rastus.

Rastus was a farm boy, as always there were chores. One CHORE in the spring was planting. Another spring activity was swimming in the creek. The day was in the 80’s the sun was bright and it was time to plant beans. Word was out all the boys would be at the swimming hole for the first dive of the year. Rastus was the best diver.

He planted two rows, placed the beans on a stump and sat down to take a break. He accidentally knocked his coffee can of PLANTING beans off the stump. ‘AW, me, I ain’t never gonna get to the swimmin’ hole’, HE THOUGHT, as he started to pick up the beans. In doing so he kicked a little dirt over some of the beans and noticed they covered right well, so he kicked dirt over all of them. He was thinking, ‘I’ll tell mammy they must have sold her some bad beans.’ He threw the can and cut a chogie over to the creek and had a ball swimming.

(The pic on the right is a Norman Rockwell)

(During this time I am drawing Mammy and the house and a tire swing, on a grassy hill) The story continues…..

Time passes, it is a couple weeks later Rastus has finished his chores and is swinging in the tire, just relaxing when he hears Mammy call from the garden area, “RASTUS EUGENE”, did you know that is the only reason for a second name, so you can tell when your mama is MAD?

He jumped out of the swing, getting his story ready he ran down the hill, Mammy is standing by the stump, uh, oh! There are a million bean plants by the stump, nothing growing in the last 8 rows. He knows his goose is cooked. He spends the next two days with a sore behind transplanting beans.

(The picture is complete and I ask do you like the picture of Rastus? The audience always looks confused, all they see is Mammy, house, garden and swing.)

No one sees Rastus. The picture is what is called a topsy-turvy picture. The real picture is not revealed until I turn the picture upside down, then everybody claps, Rastus is as plain as day)

The theme of the picture story is: Be sure your sins will find you out.

I wonder sometimes why politicians and some Christian leaders never learned that simple truth, there is nothing hid that shall not be known?

I thought about that story this week when the skipper of the ‘Big E’ lost his job for some videos he made years ago, things will always catch up to you.

Remember what one wise man said, ‘a secret can only be kept by one person and a friend (if the friend is dead)’.

Thanks for coming by the log.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

A bank is a place that will lend you money, if you can prove that you don't need it.

Thanks Helen for the reminder of the ‘55 Thunderbird! One classic sports car!!!