Louisiana Loco-Motive

Chapter 4

Odd Knock

There was an odd knock at the side door of Sugar's house, so she set her sweet tea down and went to see who it could be on an early afternoon. Opening the door, she peered at the weak looking little man standing before her through the screen door.

"Can I help you?" she asked.

"Yes ma'am, I telephoned earlier about the interview."

"Oh!"

She perked up remembering the call from earlier she'd received adding, "You're just in time," as she pushed the screen door open a tiny bit and added, "Well, don't be shy now. You traveled all the way out here; C'mon in and i'll make you a cuppa coffee. Get you a piece of pound cake, too."

As the man entered the kitchen through the side door and took a seat at the table, he used one long, bony, crooked finger to push his wire rimmed spectacles back up on the bridge of his nose, as he looked around in curiosity. Standing at the kitchen counter with her back to her visitor, Sugar continued her conversation as she prepared the man's  refreshment.

"So the folks down at the town square sent ya here to help out Mrs. Devereux with some information for the Founders Day Festival?"

"Yes ma'am."

Can you believe the folks 'round here trust that ol' thing to clue 'em in on the history of our lil town? Cream?"

"No, thank you. I like it black."

"So do I honey, so do i."

The man hurriedly piped up to ask, "So how old did you say Mrs Devereux was?"

"Is, honey IS. She's not dead."

"Oh, right," the man embarrassingly acknowledged.

"But, she's a hundred and nine. So old and decrepit, she's liable to say any ol' thing. How's that pound cake?"

"Rather delicious," the man nodded in approvement.

"Oh, good," Sugar grinned adding, "I baked it myself. Using an ol' recipe from my granddaddy; but, jus' tween you and me, it's the only thing I know how to bake. I never was able to perfect a sweet potato pie or any kind of biscuits from scratch."