Chapter 11

OUT…FROM THY FATHER’S HOUSE.

(From the time I depart Daddy’s house for Auburn, Alabama early on a frosty morn about 6 January 1965, till a Saturday morning in late February 1965, relaxing in the lounge of the Student Union Building at Auburn University, a time of reflection and a milestone in my life.)

My net pay for census taking and use of personal vehicle for the 3 weeks of census taking came to over $200 in one paycheck. I naively expected to be handed the U.S. government paycheck almost immediately upon completing the job well before Christmas. But as the job neared its end, the lady supervisor informed me that all the work would have to be calculated, recorded, reported, the pay calculated, and then the checks issued. “Expect to receive your paycheck in the mail in early January.”

Surprise! There had been a lot of weekdays when I had gotten rained out of work this summer and idle days when Mr. Mars had no work for me. I had purchased 2 cars and unwisely spent some money for pleasures when I should have been totally frugal to save every last penny I could for university. I had bought 2 or 3 firearms when I could have gotten by with buying only that trusty, life-saving Snake Charmer, with which I induced Snaky to do his shaky dance as the last act of his temporal existence.

All the gasoline money for traveling on the census job had come out of my meager pocket. (My upcoming paycheck would include pay for use of personal vehicle.) I had almost no money now. I must have that paycheck to go to Auburn. So, I prayed hard that the check would arrive before I had to leave.

Departure day arrived! No check yet! Early that morning, I put the 3 or 4 cardboard boxes of my belongings into the trunk and back seat of my Chevy, hung the clothes rod across (over) the back seat and put clothes on hangers on that rod. My sister was to ride in the front seat with me to Birmingham, where I would leave her at a medical clinic she was going to periodically at that time. I watched for the mailman to come by shortly after 8, so hoping my paycheck would arrive today. If so, I would deposit that check into my account at the Bank of Vernon. Then Sis and I would get gone. The mailman drove up to our box on time, put mail into it, and went on. With my heart in my throat, I hurried to the mailbox by the roadside. No mail for me. I took the other mail into the house. Plan A had failed.

Now for Plan B, to which I did not want to have to resort. I started up my car’s engine, turned the defroster on full blast, and scrapped the frost from the front windshield. I would drive to the Bank of Vernon and ask President Bragg for a $200 loan, telling him I was due to receive a paycheck any day now from Uncle Sam for more than that amount. Then I would immediately repay the bank loan and interest. in full. Mr. Bragg would give me loan papers and tell me to have Daddy sign them also, and then he would immediately put the money into my account. I was plenty certain that, with Daddy’s signature on the loan papers, President Bragg would not refuse me a $200 loan.

I did not discuss any of this in advance with Daddy. His 18 years of stone silence to me had (regretfully) naturally trained me to not confer much with him at all. (Take note of that, parents.) I had not asked his permission to enter a university, because he had totally released me from his dominion. So now, all such decisions were mine alone to make. He and I had never discussed my college financing.

It was a foregone conclusion that because I was now totally in charge of my life (under God, of course), that I was also totally in charge of financing it. I think Daddy would gladly have financed all my university studies, if only he had been able to do so financially. He was not financially able to help at all. I well knew that. Thus, I determined (with God’s Help) to work my way thru college.

I was quite sure Daddy would sign loan papers for me this morning, knowing my paycheck would arrive any day now. Silent Dad was not conferring with me that morning. But he was observing my situation. He was at the house now, had seen me hurry to the mailbox, bring all his mail into the house, put it down, and go prepare my car to leave. So, as I was scraping a frosty windshield with the car’s engine warming up, he came out of his “hiding” (similar to our God that hideth Himself), and walked out to me. “I have some money I can let you use till your paycheck comes.”

‘My check with be more than $200, and I need $200 now.’

“I can loan you that much till your paycheck arrives.”

I don’t recall how we made that “transaction” in our front yard that frosty morn. But likely he said he would go to town today and deposit $200 into my bank account, so I could write my checks on it at Auburn. Then when my paycheck arrived 3 or 4 days later, he took it to the bank, told President Bragg that I owed him $200. Likely, Daddy signed my name and then his name to my check. Then Mr. Bragg put $200 into Daddy’s account and the remainder into my account, giving Daddy a deposit slip to mail to me at Auburn. In a small-town bank at that time, such an informal transaction was acceptable.

1d. I move out of my boyhood home, my earthly father’s house.

I have few personal belongings. And I only load a small amount of those into my car to take to Auburn on this day, some of my better clothes, toilet articles, the quilt my dear Mother made for me, and such. Also, from this day until I graduate from Auburn University I will lodge many nights here in Daddy’s house. But I will lodge more nights elsewhere during my days as a university student. Therefore, it is best to designate this day in early January 1965, for that major change of moving out from my boyhood home.

In the boys’ bedroom in this “new” Yerby house, no interior walls were ever affixed (built). Two outside walls were built on the 2 exterior sides of our bedroom. A bathroom wall and hallway wall were built on those 2 respective sides of the upright 2 by 4 framing studs. But, standing inside our bedroom looking at all 4 walls, one sees the bare 2 by 4 studs (wooden upright framing boards) of all 4 walls, and sees the drab black tarpaper tacked onto the opposite side of the studs before the boards were nailed onto the outside of the 2 exterior walls. One sees the backside of the wooden boards nailed onto the opposite sides of the “studs” of the bathroom and hallway walls. Daddy’s building plans called for a closet in this bedroom. The closet was never built. Four large nails were driven into 4 separate studs high up, one nail for each of the 4 boys (who first occupied this room) to hang his few clothes (on wire hangers) onto his respective nail. Luxurious Living!

During my 6 years of junior high and high school, I was most blessed to live in a house that did not leak, and that did not have cracks in the walls and floors (and many other deficiencies of those 2 old houses I had lived in before). But the black tarpaper walls of my bedroom were plenty drab to stare upon. However, apart from when I slept each night, I spent scant little time in this room.

Daddy sincerely intended to build our new house to completion, but those good intentions were never fulfilled. No big deal really, because I am journeying to the beautiful, perfect Celestial City in Heaven. Where are you journeying, to abide there forever??

Moving out of Dad’s house today, I will have much better living quarters from now on, and a much more fun, exciting, and interesting life out in the world. That will make the future times that I lodge in Daddy’s house more bland, wishing I was instead in the more comfortable living quarters that I am becoming spoiled by.

This frosty morn, as I put a few belongings into my car to take this giant step (leap) of moving out of my boyhood home (moving to Auburn), mixed emotions whirl around in my heart and soul. ‘This is my home and family. I sort of regret leaving it. (Doubts and fears)→Will I be able to finance 4 years of university study? Will I be able to make passing grades and graduate from a large university? The future feels so uncertain, stepping out on my own.’ Amongst such negative and insecure feelings were also bright emotions. ‘I welcome this chance to physically distance myself from this place where I have experienced much hard labor and many difficulties all the while I have abided here. I know that the campus life I am headed for, is much more pleasant and exciting. And I look forward with great expectations, to striving as hard as possible to make a much better life for myself from now on, and be set free from the slave farm!!’

Soon Janiece gets into the car with me and I depart home. We talk much, riding together the 3 hours or so to the clinic in Birmingham. Possibly I stayed in the waiting room during her visit to the doctor, and then drove her to the bus station to catch a bus toward home. But likely I headed on immediately, and when she finished, she took a taxi from the clinic to the bus terminal.

I said “Bye” to her, and headed down US Hwy 280 toward Auburn. This was my very first time to drive in a city as large as Birmingham. I was somewhat apprehensive. I had an Alabama state road map with a small insert map of Birmingham. I studied it well and found my way OK, thank God. (God has given me a fascination regarding maps and a natural ability to read maps well.) Thank Thee, Lord.

Likely we two stopped somewhere and ate something for lunch, and then I parted from Janiece in early afternoon. It was about dark when I reached Auburn. I parked in First Baptist Church’s parking lot again (with which I was familiar), and there slept in my car again on this my 1^st night of this 2^nd trip alone to Auburn. (As usual, I was too poor to give money to a motel. Likely, I forewent supper also.)

Also, parking is at a premium in this college town. Thus, most parking lots have strongly worded signs strictly forbidding unauthorized parking. Later, the Baptist Church will erect such signs. But not yet, and no one accosted me the 4 or so nights I sleep here, this night being my last one, thank God!

Presently, 3 or more boys from Vernon (I know them all) are students at Auburn. During the Christmas break, I had questioned Tommy W. in Vernon more than once to get info I needed, especially info on an available room to rent. “Go to 174 Burton Street for a cheap room. There are definitely rooms available there. Three (or so) of us boys who lived there thru the fall quarter got fed up with some things the landlord did, so we will room elsewhere starting this winter term. We were mad enough with the landlord that we didn’t tell him we would not be back in January. But we each removed all our things from our rooms. We will not go back. He doesn’t know it yet (Heh, Heh), but he has plenty of vacant rooms.” Quite a useful story Tommy told me, dripping with vengeance somewhat.

My belongings in my car included bedding I would use in my rented room. So, I now cover myself with a quilt and enough blankets to keep as warm as possible in the cold January night as I lay me down to sleep on the car seat. My Mother had quilted by hand; sewing quilts with needle and thread. Before her untimely and early death, I think she had completed a quilt for each of her 4 children. I brought that cherished treasure of mine with me to Auburn.

The next morning, shortly after 7 AM I get out of the car and start walking in search of Burton Street. I have no idea where Burton Street is, but likely it isn’t far away in this small town. (What a joy to attend a large university located in a small town.) I like to walk. (Walking is Christ-like.) Also, I don’t like the dangerous risk of distraction that comes with searching for a destination while driving in a place I know nothing of. I have no idea which direction Burton Street was from my car. Also, I don’t know that street is only one block long. Both of these factors could make my search most difficult. If I don’t come across Burton Street soon, I will ask someone if they know where it is.

Thank Thee, Lord, for perfectly directing my steps that morn, leading me directly to the nearest thru street running east and west, leading me to go east on that street, and Burton Street dead-ended from the left into that street a block or so ahead. Truly All Thy Ways are Perfect, Lord! Amen!

174 Burton Street was about a 5-minute walk from my parked car. Tho I had no idea of its location, the Lord guided me directly to that short street. Thank Thee, Lord, for making my way perfect.

Street signs were in place to identify Burton Street. When I arrived at lot Number 174, I saw a quite large old house with rooms rented to students in its basement, 1^st and 2^nd floors and loft. The land sloped down away from Burton Street in front, making the basement rooms visible to me. The somewhat stately (but old) house had 2 floors above the basement, plus an attic above the 2^nd floor with 2 small student rooms in the attic. I think that all the rooms on all four floors were now rentals to college guys, except for 2 (or so) rooms the landlord (or manager?) occupied at the 1^st floor main entrance.

That adds up to several rental rooms, and Tommy knew that more of them are vacant than the landlord now knows are vacant. Out back there was also a 2-story apartment building (containing 4 apts., 2 up and 2 down), that had been built in the large backyard many years after the old house had been built. Nowadays, the goal is maximum rental rooms for students, to get max room money, as university student numbers increase.

The landlord (or manager?) lived alone on the 1^st floor of the large house and he answered my knock. ‘Good morning, Sir. I’m a new student, wanting to rent a room. Do you have one available?’

He led me upstairs to the 2^nd floor, knocked on the door to Ray’s room next to the 2^nd floor stair landing, opened the door and went on in, when there was no answer because Ray was out. He told me I would room with Ray, told me the cost to rent for the Winter Term, and showed me which one of the 2 single beds and the 2 desks were vacant for me.

In my country boy shyness, I did not have the nerve to even hint to him the things Tommy had told me. I would like to have pressed him for a room presently vacant, and pray that a roommate would not come into it. But I lacked the nerve to be that forward. But still, that room is what my Lord gives me in a few hours, thank God. It was best that I didn’t say a word about what I had learned from Tommy. I told the man I would take this room with Ray. Likely I wrote him a check later that day, as I had brought nothing with me from my locked car right now.

I soon leave him, walk back to the car, drive to my new abode, park, bring in 1 or more cardboard boxes of my things, put them on the bed and walk to campus to get info on where to register and such. When I come back later, upperclassman (3^rd year junior) Ray is in the room. I introduce myself and we shake hands. I am nervous, causing me to once address this fellow student as “Sir”.

“Other rooms here are totally empty and available,” Ray told me, preferring to keep his room to himself alone. I knew that rooms were vacant, but still don’t have the nerve in my young soul to confront the landlord with that. So, I ask upper classman and veteran resident Ray to ask the landlord if I could have an empty room. I soon leave and walk back to campus about a third of a mile away. When I return in the afternoon, Ray shows me the vacant room at the back of this 2^nd floor. “The landlord said you can stay in here for the time being, but if those former residents show up, you will have to give up this room.” Likely Ray had lightly and politely hinted to the landlord that those boys would not return. I smile inside, knowing for sure they will not. So, I move into my own room, thank God, and have it all to myself for this winter and spring quarters (until the start of June when I depart Auburn for the 3 summer months). Refreshing!

Thank Thee, my Precious Lord Jesus, for this privacy amidst these heathen college guys!

There are 4 rooms on the 2^nd floor. Across the narrow hallway from me in the other back room, reside Freddy (a 4^th year senior) and his roommate. Freddy is from Sulligent in Lamar County, 10 miles north of Vernon. Freddy’s older brother, Max (about the same age as my sister’s boyfriend, Jerry), had already graduated from Auburn. Freddy and Max know Jerry well. They had often ridden together to and from Lamar County on weekends.

Earlier this day after I put some of my things onto “my” bed in Ray’s room, and then went out, Freddy had strolled into Ray’s room to chat with him. Looking at the new student’s (my) belongings on the bed, Freddy saw Jerry’s name on an old annual catalog the university publishes. Jerry had given it to me when I told him I planned to enroll at Auburn. Seeing Jerry’s name on it made Freddy desirous to meet me. When I later return, he talks with me quite a bit. Freddy is smart, quick witted, lively, and a talker. But his talk isn’t vain or boring. He is enjoyable to be around. Now it makes me feel more at home here, having a Lamar County guy across the hall from me, a university senior 3 years older than I, who will take time to talk to immature me.

Gaining my own private room with bed, chest-of-drawers, desk, chair and closet, and central heat, (all for my own personal use and comfort) elevated me to a most welcomed higher plateau of life.

(A side note here: In these ancient days, smokers freely smoked most anywhere. None of the other 3 guys on my floor smoke, thank God. Thus, no smoke drifting all over this entire 2^nd floor. Perchance I had a roommate that smoked, he would smoke freely in our room. That would be a most horrible fate for me!)

I feel precisely in my element when I am sitting at a desk, reading, writing, or studying. For the first time in my life, I can now fully and freely do those things because I have my own private room, comfortably warm in the winter, with a nice desk all my own. At home, my shared bedroom was always cold in the winter. I now feel like I’m in a Dream World, as I sit studying at my desk in a T-shirt in this warm room in January.

My life’s earliest memories regarding such matters are memories of us 4 children sleeping on the 2 double beds in our living room. Soon after Mother’s death, Daddy gave Janiece his and Mother’s bed in that small side room. He exchanged sleeping spots with her, and slept in the bed with Joe in the living room. When we moved to the old house nearby, we 4 males of the family again slept on 2 beds in a small bedroom.

Upon moving into our newly built house at the end of August, Sidney and our stepbrother Rayburn slept on 1 bed, and Joe and I slept on another bed in the same room (4 boys lodging in 1 room) until the following June or so when Rayburn left home for the Air Force. Then we 3 brothers shared that bedroom for more than 5 years till I drove to Auburn yesterday (approximately 6 January 1965), and slept alone in my car 1 night. Since then, I’ve slept in a private room all to myself the vast majority of the many nights God has given me since that day. Such privacy and solitude suit me fine. You well know that people are a pain in the neck.

“But red-neck Richard Boy, YOU are a ‘people’ also!”

‘I well know that. And all the folks around me well know what a painful pain in the neck I am. Checkmate!’

Thru out my 6 years of elementary school, we “pore” Yerby kids had not a suitable place at home to study (do school homework, study for tests, and such). In early fall and late spring, we could sit around anywhere at home, outside or inside, to study. But the temptature was frigid most school days. Then, we would huddle near the wood stove or fireplace in the living room with our books, writing materials, and such on our laps. Not good study conditions at all.

When I entered 7^th grade. and Rayburn entered our boys’ bedroom, he placed his desk in the crowded bedroom, used it himself that year, and then left it. I studied at it yearly from grades 8 thru 12 when the temptature wasn’t frigid. In cold weather, I sat near the fireplace in the living room, halfheartedly trying to keep my eyes off Mrs. Ryan’s TV which was always playing. At this time, in the evenings, high school graduate Big Sis was constantly prodding us 3 boys to keep our eyes off the TV and on our books instead. At times I would go sit by the warm fireplace in Janiece’s room to study and do homework. Until I moved into this warm cozy room at Auburn, I never had a bedroom that was comfortably warm during cold weather.

“What a life that must have been!”

‘You can say that again!’

“What a life that must have been!!!”

I wrote of hanging my hanging clothes on wire hangers on a nail. In our boys’ bedroom in Dad’s new house, was one chest of drawers. Each boy got 1 of its drawers for socks, underwear and such. I come to Auburn and get a private room with a closet, chest of drawers and such, all my own. It was almost like a dream for this “pore” boy.

Thank Thee, my Precious Lord, for this notable day when Thou didst put me into my own private, comfortably heated, and comfortably furnished room on the 2^nd floor of this somewhat stately old wood frame large house in a well-established and quiet neighborhood. That was such a joy, and a great aid to my physical and mental well-being.

My first 12 years of life, we pumped water from the well or drew well water with bucket and rope, heated it on a wood burning stove in cold weather and took a “sponge” bath near the wood heater (or stove) in the living room or kitchen. During hot months, we set a washtub a third full of water in the back yard for the sunrays to warm it. At nighttime, we set it on the dark back porch where from the youngest soul to the eldest, we sat in that tub 1 by 1 to scrub down. After we worked all day in the field on a hot summer day, by the time Daddy (the last one) took his bath, the bath water had become most murky. That stoic man never complained.

When Daddy built our new house, he built a bathroom and installed an old bathtub and drainage for it. But we had not running water. So, we would insert the plug into the drain and pour in a few buckets of water from the well into our used bathtub. By now, we had an amazing little water heater. (Likely such little water heaters got outlawed years ago for safety reasons, to prevent deaths from electric shock.) It was an oval shape electric heating unit about 2 inches thick, about 5 inches wide, and close to 10 inches long, with electric cord attached. Make sure you put the heating unit into the water before plugging it in, or it will instantly burn out if plugged in when it is dry. While it is plugged in, do not touch the tub or the water in it, because it will shock you. I got shocked a few times. We would heat the bath water with that dangerous device capable of delivering a deadly shock, if one were to accidently fall into the tub when it was heating water.

I told you of my 4-H Club trip to Auburn the summer after my 8^th grade year of school. Staying 5 days in Magnolia Hall, the men’s dorm, I took a shower each day. That spray of water felt so good on me, I wanted to stay in that shower forever. Now at 174 Burton Street, we 2^nd floor and attic residents all share a bath with shower on my floor. It’s nice to be able to get so clean so easily. Thank Thee; Lord, that I now can take a clean, refreshing shower daily.

Also, on Daddy’s farm we had an outhouse (a stinking, maggot pool in summer, outdoor toilet). It was not pleasant to walk that 20 or so yards to the unpleasant outhouse in rain, or cold, or darkness. It is now a pleasure to have an indoor restroom and toilet paper instead of a mail order catalog.

1e. For the first time on a regular basis, I gain a shower for a good bath, an indoor restroom for great convenience, and my own cozy private room with central heat, bed, desk, chair and closet all for my own personal use and comfort (after a childhood of sharing a crowded “bedroom” with 2 or 3 other family members).

I register for the courses I choose and start classes. It’s an immense relief to finally become a university student, as this one term delay (not starting in September) gave me plenty of doubts and fears regarding even getting a start at higher education.

1f. I enter a university.

My 19^th birthday falls upon me in January 1965.

I’ll wait till chapter after next to talk of my studies and now close this chapter with THE most pleasant higher plane to which Almighty God graciously elevates me at this time.

Upon arriving at Auburn, I eat sparingly because I have little money. I vaguely know student jobs are available, working for meals each mealtime in any of the several school cafeterias. But I need to spend every minute studying diligently, just to pass university level studies. So I determine not to work part time.

But I get hungrier and hungrier. One day, walking past Tiger Cub Café (downtown on College Street) (Auburn’s sports teams were “Tigers”), I see their sign wanting part time help. I go in and inquire. He only needs someone to work 1 meal or so each of the 5 weekdays. I ask for the job because it will not take much of my time, and will put 5 meals into my empty stomach each week without taking any money out of my almost empty pocketbook. He hires me and I begin working.

The owner is busy. Often, he’s not there when I work. His job instructions to me are insufficient because I’m a country boy unfamiliar with restaurants. He naturally assumes I know much more about life in town than I do. I’m to wait on tables. Lack of knowledge causes me to be too shy and reserved for the job (not aggressive enough). So, after a week or so, the owner tells me he has more help now than he needs (a false excuse), so he must let me go.

I’m sort of relieved because his ways with me made the job vexing. Also, he only allowed me a basic, slim meal for an hour’s work. At breakfast: “You may have 2 eggs, bacon or sausage, toast, grits, and coffee. You cannot have seconds on those, and you cannot have juice or milk unless you pay for them.” The days I worked for my supper, I could have the basic meal with bread and tea (and possibly salad). No dessert and no seconds. I could pay the restaurant’s price for any of these forbidden foods if I wanted to eat them with my meager fare (which I never did). He was sort of stingy. That was unpleasant.

Anyway, the job ends in about a week and I now revert to eating more sparingly and being hungrier. Thank God this hungry period lasts only 10 days or so before God shows great mercy upon me to put me into what becomes the exceedingly most pleasant factor of my college days, and that pleasure lasts till even a few months after I graduate from Auburn.

Tommy W. (from my hometown, Vernon, who told me about the room I rented) works full time (every meal) in a cafeteria on campus. One evening he stops by my room. “I want to be away some this weekend and I need a substitute to work for me. Will you sub for me?” OK. Tommy tells me exactly where the dining hall is located, what time I’m to go there (for Friday supper, I think), and tells me to report to Clem, the student boss of the student workers. So, I go on time.

I walk there and report to Clem on time. We workers come early and eat first before we open the cafeteria line to serve the paying students (who have meal tickets). Clem tells me to serve my own plate, walking down the backside of the serving line where the food is accessible, and then come eat at the table nearest the front with the other student workers (8 or so guys).

I almost have to pinch myself to see if I’m dreaming. Lined up are a choice of 2 meats, 2 starches, 2 veggies, dessert or fruit, 2 or more kinds of salads, 1 kind of bread, and milk, tea, or coffee. Paying students with meal tickets are limited in what they may have, but they may have seconds on veggies, salads, and tea. We workers are totally unlimited regarding choices and seconds, and thirds.

I think I worked the following day (Saturday) breakfast for Tommy. There are 2 breakfast meats, 2 styles of eggs, grits or cereal, toast, choice of fruit juices, also milk, hot chocolate, or coffee. Again, no limit on what I may eat and drink as a worker. Each meal, I may eat as much as I want, of any and all foods put out for that meal, (to be consumed there at meal time, but we are forbidden to take food back to our rooms with us). So different from stingy Tiger Cub Café owner.

“Starving College Boy Richard, did you bankrupt the dining hall with the mountain of food you consumed at each meal?”

‘No, but I might have come close to doing so. Starving me ate to the full, and was most thankful for such a great blessing!’

Student workers who serve on the food line an hour or so, get their meal in return for that work. Tommy works the dishwasher. It involves a little more drudgery. So, dishwasher workers also receive $1 per day in addition to all they can eat. I work for Tommy 3 meals that weekend. The next time he sees me; he gives me a $1. The total paycheck went to him, not to the substitute. So, he himself paid me.

“What did you say to him, Thin-Wallet Richard?”

‘Thank you, Tommy.’

Just as my roofing boss readily observed, Supervisor Clem quickly sees that I’m a good worker. “Do you want to substitute any time we need a sub (mostly on weekends when some workers go home)?”

‘Yes, Sir!’ From then on till the end of the winter term (a period of 4 weeks or so), I work a few meals each weekend. I soon ask to work full time the next term, spring quarter starting after mid-March. “You’re hired.”

‘Thank you, Clem!’

Young Soul Reading This, you be a diligent, honest, hard worker, and you will stand the best chance of getting hired, keeping the job, and advancing rapidly in it..

“Now, New College Boy Richard, you have been savoring the sweetest aspect of this cafeteria job to tell it last, haven’t you?”

‘Yep!’ It’s a girls’ cafeteria. At this time, all single co-eds (female students) at Auburn are required to live in one of the university dorms (forbidden to live off campus). Girls’ dorms are in 4 separate areas, each dorm area with its dining hall. The cafeteria where I work serves newly built Dorms A, B, and C. This job becomes the most pleasant aspect of my campus social life, while feeding me and giving me income. It greatly brightens my life seeing many nice, sweet Southern belles 3 times a day, to make friends among them, to socialize with them, and to date some of them. I will speak more of that later.

“No doubt you will, Happy, Well-Fed College Boy Richard, now most happy with a most pleasant social life on campus!”

“I most heartily thank Thee, Precious Lord Jesus, in that, as I turn 19 years old, turning into an adult, having been set free from the slave farm, Thou doest bring me into such comfort of most comfortable room and board for the first time in my life, a bless-ed state of life that masses of souls never achieve in their lifetime, and that other masses of souls experience from birth till death, with little or no thanks unto their Creator God. Amen!!

“Writer Boy, that long prayer was a single (but very long) sentence. Doest thou think that lengthy sentence presenteth any problem unto thy Almighty Creator God?”

‘I thinketh of a surety, that it doeth not!!’

1g. I gain part-time employment in a co-ed cafeteria at Auburn, thus eating 3 wholesome meals a day (as much as I want to eat), and having the delightful job of serving meals to lovely, sweet Southern belles. (Nothing at all is toilsome about this labor.)

The End of Chapter 11

On to Chapter 12

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