Come the rain.(Darrell Case) They were only 8 and 9, yet they felt like men setting on a great expedition. As farm boys, they never wore shoes in the summer except to go to church. Their mother insisted they wear shoes to go camping. They appealed to their father. He grinned and told them to do it. Their mother gave them pork chops almost cooked.
“Now I’m trusting you boys to cook these pork chops before you eat them.” She smiled at her eager sons. “I don’t want to have to nurse two sick little boys. Ok?”
“Ok.” Davy 10 and his brother Philip 9 nodded their heads. She gave them her second-best cast-iron skillet. A jug of water from the well. Four eggs. And a quart of milk. “Be sure you drink this milk tonight. It’ll spoil by tomorrow morning.”
She packed it all into a clean burlap sack. The eggs she gave them in another bag. “Just put the chops on the fire for a few minutes until the edges are brown. And for goodness’ sake, don’t get burned or burn the place down.” She said with a smile.
They grinned at her. “We won’t.” Said Davy, feeling like they were embarking on a voyage to Africa.
She stood at the door to the kitchen watching them run a crossed the south pasture. That afternoon, their daddy had helped the boys set up their tent by the pond. He stood beside her, watching them. “I’ll go down there after dark and check on them.”
“They’ll be covered in pond mud.” She said, shaking her head.
“It’ll wash off.” He said, kissing the back of her neck. “But the memories will last a lifetime”
“I know.” She said, turning back to clean the kitchen.
Davy made it to the tent first. He looked at the sky. “Think it will turn rain?” He felt the fabric between his thumb and forefinger.
“If it doesn’t, guess we’ll just dance naked in the rain.” Philip said, huffing and puffing. He danced around a little.
Leaving their shoes and socks in the tent, they went looking for frogs. A full moon rose before they returned to the campsite. They piled small twigs together like their father showed them. They soon had a roaring fire going.
Their parents watched from the porch. Their mother turned a worried face to their father.
“Think they’ll be alright?” She said.
“I’ll go down and check on them after while.”
“Don’t let them know you’re there.” She said. “They think they’re on their own.”
“I’ll be careful. They won’t know I’m there.” He gripped her hand.
Davy, being older, set the wire grill over the fire. Carefully, the boys placed the chops in the cast-iron skillet.
In a few minutes, the edges turned brown. Setting the skillet on the ground, both boys fanned it with their hands. Feeling like mountain men, they ate the hot chops with their fingers. Their mother had packed forks and spoons, but they didn’t use them. After all, they were mountain men. “Boy, this meat is good. Taste better cooked on an open fire.” Davy tore off a piece and chewed on it. The boys finished the chops and washed it down with milk.
Taking a healthy drink of milk, Philip said. “Think there are bears out there?” He looked nervously around the circle of light made by the campfire. In a way, he wished he was back in his bed. His mother would read him a story about this time.
“ Naw, maybe a dog or two, but no bears.” Davy said, hoping he was right.
They lay on their backs watching the stars and moon. Philip was about to drift off to sleep. Davy hit him in the arm. “Let’s go for a swim.” He said jumping up.”
“We can’t. We’ll get our clothes wet.” Philip said, getting to his feet.
“We’ll take ‘em off.” Davy said, unbuttoning his shirt.
“We’ll get in trouble.” Philip said, unbuttoning one button.
“Ain’t nobody round.” Davy said, shucking off his pants and underwear.
Soon, both boys were frolicking in the shallow end of the pond. Their father watched from behind a tree, grinning. He waited until the boys returned from their swim. They danced around the fire, pretending to be Indians. Soon their bodies were dry. They dressed and fell asleep in the tent. Hidden by a tree, their father watched the boys until they slept. The rain came after midnight and was done by daybreak. The boys slept warm and dry.

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