Finding Galena
an excerpt

The smell of frying bacon and burnt toast hung in the still, humid air of morning. The sun was still just a ball of burnt red fire lazing on the eastern horizon. And I knew that Josh was cooking breakfast this morning, he always burns the toast. And if Josh was cooking that meant that Momma was “lying in” this morning with a headache. Seems she had more headache days than normal days anymore. And I was getting tired of choking down burnt toast. And overcooked, dry eggs. And undercooked, well perhaps not undercooked but definitely not crisp, bacon. Soggy bacon may as well be uncooked bacon for the very unpalatable feeling it left in the throat. The alarm had another 10 minutes until it would go off beside my head. But I was awake. And it wasn’t worth laying there for a measly 10 minutes. As I tossed back the sheet and lifted myself from the bed I contemplated the day ahead.
Dad had surely been out mowing hay for about an hour by now. Anytime the tell tale rumble of the tractor pulling back up to the barn lot would be heard. The humidity was so thick you could almost cut the atmosphere with a spoon. Which meant that eventually it would rain. And putting up hay and rain were never a good mix. If Momma was going to be in bed with a headache that meant that someone had to stick around the house. Dad was going to lose a field hand. Typically that person was me. I groaned to myself as I hustled across the room and pulled my overalls down from their peg and grabbed a sleeveless shirt from the closet. Maybe if I showed up ready to run the tractor I’d be less likely to have to stay home. Throwing my clothes on as quickly as I could I grabbed my boots and ran down the stairs just as the chuga chuga of the tractor carried through the airless morning.
Sliding into the kitchen in my socked feet I made my way to the coffee maker. Dad’s morning swill was almost like sludge in the pot. Dumping the noxious brew down the sink and rinsing it out I made a gagging face over Justin’s offensive frying pan. “My gawd Justin don‘t you look just the manly man prancing around in Mama‘s apron. And lordy I know she didn’t teach you to cook like that.” I growled at him as I returned to the coffee maker and measured out more grounds and set the machine to brew a fresh pot.
“Oh, just shut it Bree.” he growled back at me. “I didn’t see you down here starting breakfast.”
“Well how was I to know that Momma was ‘under the weather’ again today?” I emphasized under the weather to point out just how frustrating I found the current events of home to be. “Just promise me you’ll actually cook the bacon this morning. You just can’t chew, much less swallow, squishy soggy bacon.”
As the coffee began to finally run down into the pot I quickly slide Dad’s mug under the stream putting the pot aside. Just as the coffee reached the top of the mug Dad’s boots could be heard sliding to the floor in the mud room. I replaced the pot and hurried to meet him at the door with the fresh cup.
“Heya Dad, this is probably the only decent thing you’ll have for breakfast. Better enjoy it.” I greeted Dad, handing him the cup as I threw another gag look over my shoulder toward my brother.
“Thank you baby” he responded taking the offered cup from my fingers and kissing me on the forehead as though I was still a child. “Well, kids it’s gonna be another hot one out there. But I think the rain will hold off for us at least one more day.”
“Food’s up!” Josh called out as he carried laden plates to the table.
“If you can call it that.” I mumbled under my breath as I followed Dad back into the kitchen. Before setting down at the table I poured up fresh mugs of coffee for both Josh and myself. Dropping a couple of generous spoons of sugar into my own mug. Placing them on the table I then poured out 3 glasses of orange juice that had just been home squeezed the day before. Taking them to the table I took my seat.
“Thanks for taking the breakfast duty this morning Josh. We are both grateful that you took the time to prepare us something to eat to start our day.” Dad said to Josh while shooting me a look that I knew meant to keep my trap shut or else. “Now then, Josh, why don’t you say grace this for us this morning.”