A View
from the Garden
In the
late 30’s few people in Fayetteville had an automobile.
Most people walked to their destination. When I was about
five we lived in the house with Mrs. Jenny Farrar, an
elderly lady. We could see the Courthouse from our bedroom
window. Many people living south of town walked past our
house each day.
Mrs. Jenny had a large rose garden just north of the house
next to the sidewalk. She took pride in her roses and spent
a lot of time pruhing in her garden. Mrs. Jenny was short,
about as wide as she was tall, and when she stooped over to
prune her rose bushes, her dress would ride up over her
hips.
Mrs. Louvale Dettmering lived with her family and mother
just north of where Jerry Mask’s gas station is located
today. She usually made at least one trip each day to town
passing by Mrs. Jenny’s rose garden.
One day while Mrs. Jenny was in her garden pruning: As
usual, as she stooped over, her dress would ride up over
her hips. Mrs. Dettmering passing by hollered to Mrs.
Jenny, “Jenny, when you bend over like that, everyone can
see your behind”.
Mrs. Jenny said, “ Aw, Louvale, nobody cares about seeing
an old woman’s behind.”
“That ‘s what I mean,” responded Mrs. Dettmering