Cornersville,
the Best Place to Live
Picture
the white picket fence lining the sandy road, with huge old sycamore trees
and hackberry bushes on
either side. From the road, inside the picket fence, you can see Miz Maddie’s house where she is raising her four
girls, Minnie, Lucy, Jenny, and Annie, and her two boys, Brownie and Charley. While
she isn’t the oldest resident, Miz Maddie is the matriarch of Cornersville and
all of Misty Forest beyond.
People
there are all good neighbors, watching out for one another, and no such thing
as crime. Maybe because folks are always
giving you anything you need. Don’t want
to steal eggs ‘cause Miz Maddie is so happy to share hers. No one needs to
worry about twigs for a nest because the Si Squirrel family is happy to gather enough
sticks and grass for everyone. Barney
Beaver and his family supply wood for any standing structures. Mrs. Puddleduck
offers feathers in case you want a soft mattress, and Ritzy Racoon and Boss
Bear always bring enough of their fish catches to share.
Lest this picture of all the good things in
Cornersville paints a false image, I must share that sometimes dark shadows almost
obscure the canvas. Shadows can foretell accidents, others hover over bad
choices. But this morning, like so many mornings, the sun is shining brightly
and the sunflowers are turning their heads. All is well in Cornersville.
Everybody is so friendly. An hour ago,
when Miz Maddie was out watering her roses enjoying their fragrance, Zigzag Chicken-Snake
came scooting up the road beside her picket fence, tipping his straw hat with
the black band and smiling at her, like he did to everyone he met on the road. “Good morning, Ziggy,” Miz Maddie called out,
“You headed to town?”
“Yes, ‘mam.”
“Be safe!”
“Ziggy”, which everyone affectionately calls him, is headed for the
upper road that leads into Cornersville.
The junction is about a half block up from Miz Maddie’s place where three
weathered wooden signs stand tall on poles anchored in the dirt. One sign points
to Upper Road to Cornersville, and a
second signs points toward River Road (which also goes to Cornersville a the more
picturesque way, but longer), while the third sign points down to Rhinestone River. Late at night, Fairy
Fox or Cozy Coyote travel that latter road that winds down behind her house, according
to Miz Maddie, who never misses anyone going or coming down the road outside
her yard.
Any day would be an unusual day if folks didn’t stop at Miz Maddie’s gate to visit
awhile. Yes, Cornersville is one
wonderful place to call home!
