Graceland Beginnings [Elvis]

Chapter 4 - He's Really Who He Says He Is

I had sweated badly before, but this was a joke. After breakfast, I helped Grace and Lucy pick some ripe produce out in their fruit and vegetable gardens, and we harvested some grain as well. I collapsed into a rocking chair in their living room. What I would give for a long sofa. And a shower. They didn't have one, according to what Grace told me as we gathered tomatoes. There was a closed-off area in the back of the house that was used for bathing, as in, bed sheets or large blankets blocked off the little area as they hung from a line that was separate from the clothesline that was already back there with sheets billowing from them. And... there was no plumbing. They went in an outhouse and used the solid contents for fertilizer. They used the animal waste as well. I about yakked when Lucy told me that, and Grace had roared with laughter. And these people ate that food they grew with that stuff!

Maybe I didn't like this time period as much as I did before.

"Are you still alive?" asked Grace as she came in the living room from the kitchen, and she stood there with a hand on her hip and an amused smile on her face.

"Barely. Let's just say I have a whole lot of respect for people from times passed. There's no plumbing, no shower... What I would give for that right now."

"You mean water comin' down on your head from a pipe," she said. "Like what you said earlier when we were out in the field."

I ran a hand through my damp hair... damp with sweat. "Yeah."

"I can see how that would be better than bathin' in a tin tub. The filth is just runnin' off of ya, but while in a bath, you're sittin' in it."

"Exactly."

She stared at me for a moment, then asked, "You're not used to livin' like this."

"No, I'm not. Maybe some people in my time live like this, but where I live, no. I'm more worn out than when I did a dozen concerts in one week. And it's been, what, a few hours since we milked Violet out there?"

"About four hours, yes. Now, I'm gonna help Momma in the kitchen to make lunch for us. I think you can go find Petunia, and she can help ya gather the rest of our cattle in the front field. All you need to do is tell 'er to round 'em up, and she'll get to it."

I sat up in the rocking chair, liking this idea. "She's a herdin' dog?"

"Yes. I believe I saw her scamperin' around near the front porch earlier."

Finally, I could go play with that dog. Or, play with her and put her to work. I stood up. "I'll get right to that, Grace."

"Thank you. Usually that chore would be left to me. It's nice havin' a farmhand."

"You sure you don't wanna show me how to do this? I've never done it before."

"Just do as I said to do, and you'll be fine. Just allow Petunia to heard 'em in through the enclosure near the barn. There are only four cows out there, so it won't take long to get 'em in. Petunia's done it thousands of times since she was a pup."

I nodded, still not sure about this. I had seen the country before, and lived near some when I was younger, and I had seen herding dogs at work. It looked so easy. Now, it was my turn. I was trading in my guitar for a herding dog. It wasn't that bad of a trade, honestly, and it was nice taking orders from a pretty girl, rather than my strict manager.

"I see," I said. "Well, I guess just come out and get me when lunch is ready." I gave her a sly look. "You're not doin' this just to mess with me, are ya? To get at the famous city boy?"

She broke a smile. "I admit that's part of it, but you seem like a pretty fit young man. You mentioned that your life was pretty busy before, the life of travelin' everywhere and workin' your tail off for your career."