The Bath

Chapter Sixteen in “Decades with the Squad,” by my late father, William Palmer Jervey, Jr. Vanity, vanity, all is vanity. The truth of this old saying was borne out in the episode of a simpleton literally racing the clock on his way from Powhatan to Richmond. An attractive young lady of Powhatan had the misfortune […]

The Finger

Chapter Fifteen in “Decades with the Squad,” by my late father, William Palmer Jervey, Jr. In this day of modern surgery, the reattachment of severed members has become quite commonplace. This being the case, much attention is given to retrieving the severed part and its proper care on the way to the hospital. In all […]

Worry wart

Third time’s a charm, or so I’ve always heard. In this case, “third time” applies to my decision to retire yet again from the field of education. And maybe knit a bunch or sweaters, or stare anxiously at my kids, or grow asparagus, and try not to lose my ever-lovin’, blue-eyed mind. And let us […]

The Flood

Chapter Fourteen in “Decades with the Squad,” by my late father, William Palmer Jervey, Jr. Firemen frequently rescue cats from trees and dogs who have gotten their heads stuck somewhere. Rescue squads are not ordinarily involved with animal rescue. The major exception to this, in my experience, was when we rescued a herd of cattle. […]

Watermelons are idiots

If ever there was a plant to “take a notion,” as the old folks in my family used to say, it’s a watermelon. In exploring this issue, allow me to present two modest case studies: Exhibit A: During my most recent teaching gig, a third grader came back to class after lunch with a single […]

The Freeloader

Chapter Thirteen in “Decades with the Squad,” by my late father, William Palmer Jervey, Jr. The central figure in this one could be quite a few different people. Getting hooked into hauling someone to the hospital who doesn’t need an ambulance is an ever-present possibility. Under the law we are not required to respond to […]

A trick of the light

I learned recently that my eyes are blue only in the sense that the sky and the ocean are blue. That is, they aren’t really. There’s a spot towards the front of the iris that, for most people, holds a bit of brown or other color of pigment. This section of my eyes, apparently, has […]

Writing it out

Picture this: I’m twenty years old and I’m writing in longhand. I’m homing in on a brilliant conclusion for a college writing assignment. My topic is to draw an analogy between the seasons of the year and the phases of a person’s life. I may be a baby who knows nothing of metaphorical evenings, but […]