Jocie Brooke here reporting from Hollyhill, Kentucky.
Somebody has written a book about us here in Hollyhill! Again! Last year there was that book about all the things I found out in the summer, Scent of Lilacs. Now I'm finding out lots of new things in this story, Orchard of Hope. And some of it happens right here at the Hollyhill Grill. Dad wasn't very happy with my part in that. Not because he didn't think I was right, but because he thinks I'm too young. Dads always think you're too young to understand big issues like the Civil Rights Movement.
Of course I know about that. I read about Martin Luther King Jr. leading a march on Washington. I just never realized things were so divided here in Hollyhill until the Hearndon family moved to Holly County and Noah Hearndon started working for Dad. Boy, did he open my eyes to things I should have known but didn't. His mother rode on the Freedom Train, you know, and he was in the Children's March in Birmingham. That didn't go too well for him or his little sister, Cassidy. Then Miss Sally opened the eyes of folks at the church. Sometimes a church needs revival! And sometimes that revival starts with forgiveness.
But I can't giveaway the story. That wouldn't be nice. I could. I know the story since I lived it, but you'll just have to read it for yourself. And it's got a cute cover. That's me on the front. I wanted them to put a notebook and pencil on the table with me, but I guess they couldn't find the kind of notebook I like. Narrow ruled with a blue back. But they are letting me drink my favorite milkshake. Strawberry. Yum!
I hope if you haven't already read my story that you'll look for it wherever you get books. I might even look at the library to see if it's there. Wouldn't that be the neatest thing? To see a book about me at the library. Maybe neater would be to see a book written by me on a library shelf. That's my dream. I love to write. I guess I could have written these Heart of Hollyhill books, but I just can't imagine anybody wanting to read about Hollyhill. Nothing ever happens in Hollyhill. At least it didn't till last summer. And then....
Come back next week and maybe this writer will let me give away some books. Actually this book looks familiar. I think it used to have a different cover, but I have to say I think letting me show up on the cover of the new edition is a big improvement. Don't you?
Jocie I love to visit you here in Hollyhill. Sorry it's been awhile. Just let life get away. Will try to visit more often. I grew up in small towns and I loved them more than the cities. I think small towns are more quite and simple. And you have more caring friends and more that offers you help when it is needed. I like too that the school rooms weren't crowed like in the big city schools. And, I liked when I was growing up that there wasn't a lot of bad stuff going on every day. I enjoyed living out in the country and getting to go town on Saturdays. Could run all over town safely. And, the big dinners outdoors in the country. When I moved to another small town, it was still much this way, but I was a teenager so have different memories. This time we lived in town. I walked to school with friends, went downtown to got things for
ReplyDeletemy mom,went to the Post Office and picked up the mail, and visited the drugstore. Had to have a big ice cream cone. Yummy! We could go to the movie on Saturday and Get a coke and popcorn for 10 cents each. :) Then later, I could go to a small cafe with friends. I loved the vending machine on the wall at our table that we could put a dime in and pick the song we wanted to play. I thought that was fun. Of course I didn't have many dimes to spend. Also, loved going to our small church where I met with more friends. And, I had a fellow who lived out in the country that would ride a horse to town some Saturdays and take me riding. Sometimes us church kids would get to go to t the next town and go to the Skating Rink. Well, guess that's enough rambling for now. Talk to you later. Have fun. Maxie mac262(at)me(dot)com
Jocie here. Maxie, I love that you had a friend with a horse. I would love to go horseback riding. That has to be more fun than my bicycle. Although my new bicycle is nice. And I love ice cream. It sounds like your towns were a lot like Hollyhill. A little boring, if I want to be honest. At least I used to think nothing happened in Hollyhill, but that was before last summer.
DeleteSo glad you came to visit and stayed to chat. It was fun hearing about your town, but ten cents won't buy anything but a candy bar these days. Cokes are a quarter!!
Jocie I look forward to reading your post every Tuesday. I have read Scent of Lilacs and and now reading Orchard of Hope. I think you have an interesting life and it takes me back to when I was a child. Oh, the bicycle story brought a smile to my face as I always had hand me down bikes. Maybe one of these day I might buy me a new one and come ride with you. :) But, don't hold your breathe. For now I'll just close my eyes and see you riding yours and mine when I was your age.
ReplyDeleteJocie here. Now that would make bike riding fun - to have a girlfriend named Sharma to ride with me. Sharma - I love that name. I have a fancy name too. Jocelyn, but Wes just calls me Jo and everybody else says Jocie. Nobody but Aunt Love calls me Jocelyn and that just when she's calling me down. What I want to know is how she got a name like LOVE. I do like names though and think about what mine might be if it wasn't Jocie sometime. Do you ever do that, Sharma?
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