The Drawing: Law's Age of Accountability

The Drawing (C) 1993. By: OT Watts

Where I grew up there always seemed to be a number of individuals that were odd
and different for reasons not known to us children. 

I was but maybe six years old and Aunt 'Manda was an old lady I saw passing by
our house at least weekly on her way to and from the post office and store at
the mouth of the hollow.  She appeared to be treated differently by those around
me and I could never figure why.  I had even heard some claim she was a witch
and could cast spells on folk.  My mom said once that Aunt 'Manda was our kin
but she still didn't like "the old buzzard".  Yet, she never did explain why. 
All Mom would tell me was that I would know when I needed to know.
Once, I can remember, while passing our house, Aunt 'Manda asked for a drink of
water.  Mom took the water out to the road without inviting her into the house. 
She told Aunt 'Manda that she would give her some water but did not want her to
come inside the house.  Aunt 'Manda's only reply was, "I love you all, honey,
but I love my children too".
Then there was Cora, another person within the community that seemed a bit odd. 
She sat on her front porch in the swing throughout the summer time.  I never saw
her during the winter months except during monthly church services.  The
preacher would always hug Cora and tell her that everyone loved her.  I knew she
was my kin just as most people I knew were; I had never heard Cora speak nor had
I ever seen her smile.  No one ever stated why Cora acted as she did, meek,
quiet and to herself.  Word was that she was the prettiest girl on the hollow
until she was fifteen years old.  She was one female I had never heard the women
folk speak of poorly at any time in my life.  I remember when her father was
killed in the mines but I was too young to have known Cora when she was a young
girl.  She was at least fourteen or fifteen years older than I even though her
timid demeanor would convince anyone she was much younger.  

During the summer break between grade school and high school when I turned age
fourteen, things were opened to me that helped me understand the people around
me.  I had reached the age of accountability according to the men of my family. 
I had become a man and was expected to be as part of the community as a man was
to fulfill. 

Aunt 'Manda died that same summer.  She had always attended the same church as
my family, although we never sat on the same side of the room.  Cora sat on the
same side as us.  The night Aunt 'Manda died was one I could never forget.  It
was but only a week or two after my birthday and I found out that very night
what it was expected of me to fulfill my position as a man in our family and in
our community. 

That evening, my dad took my oldest brother and me to our old mill shed.  My
younger brother wasn't allowed to go even though he begged for the opportunity. 
He was only twelve years old.  The mill was near a quarter of a mile from our
house.  The old rough lumber structure was approximately thirty feet wide and a
hundred feet long and was full of men when we arrived.  Every uncle, first
cousin, great-uncle, my dad, my brother and I were under the shed.  I was so
excited I could feel my heart pounding with anxiety as I had no idea what was to
occur.  It was my first official night as being a grown man.
Cousin Calvin rose in front of the crowd and said, "We need to come to order. 
We are gathered here to do the work that God expects of us as men.  So let us
look at Him for His blessings and guidance".  Calvin was one of our ordained
ministers.  He was also scheduled to preach Aunt 'Manda's funeral two days
later.  We all dropped to our knees while he prayed.
He began, "God, we come to you in the most humbled way we know.  We ask for your
guidance.  We ask for your blessings.  We beg for your forgiveness for delaying
work that you may have wished to be done.  Forgive us our shortcomings. A-men
(A-mens were sounded throughout the group)."
Calvin continued to address the gathering, "We all loved Aunt 'Manda as we
should.  Her son Buckey will be in for his mother's funeral from where ever he
has been the last fourteen years.  Now, we who need to know what he did know
well why we are here.  Those of you who don't know, will know, but you must
remember that what we say and do here can only be known to us and God.  Any man
who violates his oath will bring down God's wrath on himself and his seed".
Calvin spoke with vehemence, positive in his delivery and cause.  He picked up a
toll box and raised it above his eye level.  Each man was to pass by and pull
from the box one small folded piece of paper.  After everyone passed Calvin then
lowered the box and pulled out the last piece for himself.  Orders were that no
one was to unfold their piece of paper until they were told as he continued to
deliver the message, "Buckey disgraced a member of our family some fourteen
years ago; this, for which we have all grieved for so long.  He violated a child
of God.  God has grieved with us.  Our and His grievance must be atoned".
There was a pause as each of us who did not know was told what had happened by
our dad, uncle or whoever had escorted us to the mill shed.  Calvin went on,
"There are four among us who have written instructions on folded paper and the
rest are blank.  Do not read these until you are alone and I'll see all of you
at Aunt 'Manda's funeral".
As we left the shed and headed home I continually felt inside my pocket to make
sure I had not lost my piece of paper.  Not much was said as we walked back to
the house.  Only Dad said something about how dark it was.  Dad then suggested
and we all agreed not to look at our pieces of paper until after the funeral.
Mom never asked about where we had been or what we had done.  She knew it was
men's business and that women did not interfere with such.
Almost every person in the community attended Aunt 'Manda's wake at the church. 
None of my family went to her home the first night but we were all at the
church.  All of her children were at the church, most of who had been living
away and in other states.  Some of them had driven cars to the mouth of the
hollow and walked the two miles or so up to the old home place.  Cora was at the
church as was her whole family.  As usual, she never spoke and showed no sign of
emotion.  The only person I saw speak to her was Calvin.  He put his arm around
her, as he always did, and assured her that we all loved her.
The food at the wake was plentiful, wonderfully prepared and presented.  Friends
and family talked and reminisced of times past.  They only spoke of the good
things Aunt 'Manda had done and nearly all greeted and consoled her family
members.  Of her family Buckey was the most cordial.  He appeared to be about
the friendliest fellow I had ever encountered, the best dressed and as handsome
a man as I had ever seen.  He appeared to be able to talk endlessly.  And
everyone seemed to encourage him to talk even more.