Forever Country Read Online Free PDF

wonder who would have busted out the windows and
written the graffiti on the red brick building. It doesn’t seem
like an area with juvenile delinquents running around.
    “ It’s sad, isn’t
it?”
    I turn around and I see the woman from the
store walking with her small son.
    “ Hi, I’m Savannah Mae
Dickerson, and this is my son, Sawyer Jackson.” She smiles and
reaches her hand out for mine.
    I extend my hand, “It’s nice to meet you,
Savannah Mae and Sawyer Jackson. I’m Abel Kennedy.”
    “ Nelly and Bud’s oldest
boy? Your Momma’s been braggin’ about you all week.”
    I smile. “Has she now?”
    “ She sure has. Been tellin’
everyone that Abel Lee’s comin’ home for the holidays.”
    I admire her country twang and laugh before I
release her hand. “It’s Abel.”
    She laughs and searches my eyes. “I wondered
did you go by Abel Lee.”
    “ Not since I was five years
old.” Although on occasion Mamma still calls me Abel Lee. On a very
rare occasion.
    “ I was born Savannah Mae
and I’ll die Savannah Mae.” She thinks for a minute and says, “Just
Savannah would be nice.”
    “ I think Savannah Mae suits
you just fine, Savannah Mae.”
    She smiles. “Thank you. Mae’s an old family
name. I imagine my folks would be disappointed if I stopped using
it.” She looks past me in the direction of the old school.
    I turn around and look at the old dilapidated
school. “Do they have plans for the old school?” I ask.
    “ I don’t know. The township
struggles enough. They don’t have to announce it by having this
building lookin’ the way it does.”
    I put my hands in my hoodie pocket and frown.
“Maybe they are going to turn it into something to benefit the
community.”
    “ Really, Abel Lee. No one
in this neck of the woods got money to spend on fixin’ this here
buildin.’”
    I look at her and smile. She’s cute and that
country slang is music to my ears. I hear a horn and she says,
“C’mon, Sawyer Jackson, your daddy’s here.” She looks at me and
says, “Abel Lee, it was mighty nice meetin’ ya.”
    I nod and say, “The pleasure’s all mine,
Savannah Mae.”
    Savannah Mae
    “ Ethan, buckle him in the
booster seat and I’ll get his overnight bag from the
house.”
    “ Who’s your friend?” Ethan
asks, noddin’ in the direction of the school.
    I look up and follow his eyes to Abel. “Don’t
start.”
    “ I just asked who your
friend was. I ain’t startin’ nothin’.”
    “ He’s Nelly and Bud’s
oldest boy.”
    “ The boxer?”
    “ I didn’t ask, but he must
be. They only have two sons, and we know Levi don’t box.” I look at
Abel and then at Ethan. I shake my head and
run into the house to get Sawyer Jackson’s overnight bag. I hate it
when Sawyer Jackson leaves to go to his daddy’s house. We have been
divorced for only a few months and every day it’s still a struggle.
It’s hard livin’ in these parts with a man, but to live here
without one is mighty tough.
    I walk outside and Ethan is still watchin’
Abel. I hand him the duffel bag with Sawyer Jackson’s change of
clothes in it, and focus my attention on my little boy. “Sawyer
Jackson, you be a good boy for Daddy.”
    “ I will, Momma.”
    I smile at my dark-haired, four-year-old son.
“I know you will. I love and miss you.” I look at Ethan and ask,
“Any news on a job?”
    “ Savannah Mae!”
    “ I’m just askin’. I’m
falling behind on the bills, Thanksgiving’s this week, and then
Christmas is next month. Gettin’ a little worried.”
    “ I know, and I’m sorry. I’m
doin’ my best.” Ethan gets in the driver side of the truck and
fastens his seatbelt. He looks sad and worried.
    I try to smile to assure him everything will
work out. “Well, maybe something will come up this week.”
    “ I hope so,” he says as he
starts his old Ford pickup.
    I know he’s tryin’ so I don’t say anything
else. “I’ll see you both tomorrow.”
    “ Good night,