. . . Little Redheaded White Girl October 9, 2007 (1210) Melani Adkins Chapter 6 First Date "My dear Lena, let me introduce you to my youngest brother George Ellis. He's the best barber in Logan County. George this is Lena and Oma White, formerly from Mill Creek. They have agreed to accompany me to the festivities tonight." "Pleased to meet you, Lena and Oma. I do hope you will enjoy the singing and music. There is food available, so you won't go hungry," George said with a tip of his hat to the ladies. "Where's the food," Oma asked with eager eyes. "Ha. Now I know the way to your heart, young lady. Food is available over there." George pointed to the long white building behind them. "Joe will take you there. I must go help the boys get ready to sing. Nice meeting you two." "Lets go, Joe. I want to see what they have to eat." "Oma, you had supper. You can't be that hungry," Lena scolded. "I didn't say I was hungry. I just want some candy or a piece of cake." "That is fine, Oma," Joe said as he stole a glance toward Lena. "I like pie myself. Let's go see what we can find." Lena tried to keep up with them but they seemed determined to get to the food. Oma walked straight up to the candy table and debated which sweet she would choose. "I can't decide between the peanut butter fudge or the chocolate fudge with black walnuts," the young girl said as she glanced at first one and then the other. "Lena, what would you like to eat?" "I really would like just a cup of black coffee," she said reluctantly. "Great. Ma'am would you please give me one each of those candies, a couple sugar cookies and black coffee." "Mr. Ellis, I have had enough coffee. Could I have apple cider?" "Certainly, Oma." Joe paid for the items and they retreated to some benches not very far away. Oma opened her eyes wide when Joe gave her both pieces of candy. He offered a cookie to Lena but she refused so he also gave that cookie to Oma. Lena and Joe sipped coffee and listened to the gospel quartet open the singing with ‘My Country ‘Tis of Thee" and then, ‘Church in the Wildwood.' Next came some mountain music with fiddles, guitars and banjos playing the usual ‘Turkey in the Straw,' ‘Rattler' and ‘Little Brown Jug'. "Play, ‘Little Liza Jane'," Joe yelled out to the group. Immediately the fiddle started on it with the others joining in. Joe laughed and clapped his hands as he sang along. "Lena's name is Lena Jane," Oma said. "That's about the same," Joe said looking at Lena. "No. It's not really. We didn't have a middle name and Oma picked her one out. There was a very pretty woman that lived on Mill Creek called Jesse, so Oma became Oma Jesse." "Yes, and you picked Jane after Aunt Jane," Oma said before she could be hushed. "That was Grandma Rhoda Duncan White's sister. She is the one that walked Mother and her brothers and sisters in to Logan from Mercer County when Grandma died. A bull got after them one day and they all had to climb a tree. Aunt Jane pushed them up in the tree and they all had to set there until the old bull left," Oma said with finality while darting a look of defiance at Lena. "Well those names sound pretty to me. It's Oma Jesse White and Lena Jane White then. Beautiful," Joe said with a big smile as he looked at Lena out of the corner of his eye. "And a family history lesson at the same time." Lena stared at Oma in an effort to get her to hush about childish private talk. She avoided looking at Joe because she was embarrassed. Several other groups played or sang or both. All in all, it was a very pleasant and lively gathering on the warm fall night. As the show concluded, Joe stood up and offered his hand to Lena, who ignored it as she stood. Oma reached across and placed her small hand on Joe's hand and rose to stand beside him. Joe stepped between the ladies and they began the leisurely walk back down to the lower end of town. Joe and Lena walked quietly listening to Oma Jesse chatter about everything that happened that night. At thirteen, she was caught between being a child and a young woman. She was a delight to watch as her expression changed with each tale and her high-pitched laugh rang out again and again. When the group reached the White residence, Joe and Lena sat on the porch as Oma rushed inside to tell Homer and her parents about the night. Even from the porch, they could hear her laughter. "I hope you enjoyed the evening, Lena," Joe began cautiously as he looked gently at the young woman seated across from him. "I did very much. I do love music, and the singers and musicians were very good," Lena admitted. Then she looked up into his eyes and gave him a genuine smile, "Thank you for being so kind to Oma. I do appreciate it and I apologize if she offended in any way." "My dear, nobody can offend me. She was a delight, and I am glad that she went with us. Besides you would not have gone with me alone, would you?" His voice was soft and gentle but his question was sincere. "Probably not," Lena admitted but she looked at him with a comfortable grin. "But, Mr. Ellis, I don't really know you or anything about you." "Please call me Joe. I know we just met, but we have plenty of time. Lena, I'm not going to let you go. I won't be around for at least three weeks since I am going to Gilbert on Monday with Tom. I am coming back to see you when I return. Don't answer now. Think about it while I am away," Joe requested as he rose. He did not touch her despite his desire to do so. He merely lifted his hat as he looked at her softly and she said goodbye. "We'll talk when you get back. Please be careful, Joe," There. She finally said his name. Joe felt as though a weight had been lifted from his heart and there was hope for them. He winked and smiled. "I look forward to seeing you then. Goodnight, my dear." "Stop calling me that. You hardly know me," Lena cautioned him. "But I will, my little Lena Jane. I will." Joe danced lightly down the three steps, turned and tipped his hat again and started a brisk walk back up toward town. Lena stood in the shadows on the porch and watched him until he went out of sight. She smiled at his determination. He was so polite with her, but he was always teasing her about something. Then Maudie's words rang in her ears, "You might as well be in hell with your back broke . . . " and her knees gave out and she sat back down in the chair sobbing softly because of her confusion.

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