Dec 19, 2020
Larry Hypes
Daddy shook the grates and I heard him take out the ashes, a good sign because the house was already warm when my feet hit the floor as it was getting good daylight the Saturday before Christmas. Even better, the sausage, gravy, eggs and biscuits filled the breakfast table as Mom did her part to prepare us for heading to Bluefield. We fed the chickens, watered the cows, scattered a bale of hay for them and then Daddy started the little â53 Ford while Mom finished getting ready.
We got the paper from Mr. Haven, started down the road and waved at Uncle Jabo because Dad had gotten the tank full of Gulf No-Nox on Friday evening before when he got home from U.S. Steel No. 14 mine. Uncle Gene was outside at Grandma Daltonâs and he grinned when I yelled âMerry Christmas!â from the back seat. Mr. Morrall was adjusting holiday lights on the Morning Star restaurant at the top of the hill above the Abbâs Valley School, and he, to