The Lord has Something Better In Mind

Companion piece to Southern Superstitions by BJ Robinson

"June, that's just like them planes. I'll keep my feet on the ground. If God had wanted me to fly, he'd given me wings like he gave the birds. I wasn't meant to fly. No sir, I love the land, and I'll keep my two feet firmly planted on it."

"We are talking about berries, not airplanes, Mom."

"If your dad had listened to me, he'd still be alive today. He'd be here to help me with these berries."

"What are you talking about now?"

"I told him not to plant that blasted cedar tree, but did he listen? No, you know how stubborn and hard-headed that man was. He had a mind of his own, and he wouldn't listen to nothing no woman could tell him. He planted it anyway, not paying my warning no attention at all."

"What warnings?"

"I told him if he planted that there thing," Myrtle said, as she pointed to a tall, shady cedar tree, "that he'd die when it got big enough to shade his grave."

Myrtle looked June fully in the eyes. "Them there trees are bad luck. You are just like your daddy. You are. I tell you don't do this and don't do that because it's bad luck, but you ignore me, just like your daddy did. Just you wait and see, young lady. One day it's gonna catch up with you all at once. Keep on strutting around opening umbrellas inside a house, girl, and see what happens to you. Hard-headed just like him, that's what you are. It's gonna get you kilt, too, just like it did him if you ain't careful. Can't tell you a thing either. Stubborn, mule-headed just like he was. Just remember, I warned you. I warned him, too, you know."