 |
| George Buster Singleton |
(For decades, local historian and paranormal investigator
George “Buster” Singleton published a weekly newspaper column called “Somewhere
in Time.” The column below, which was titled “A round-table discussion in the
treetop: Crows hold a big discussion, ignoring people and animals on the
ground” was originally published in the Dec. 1, 1988 edition of The Monroe
Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)
The time is 2 p.m. on the 7th of October. The place is atop
the high riverbank, overlooking the mighty Alabama.
Overhead are the branches of a giant oak tree that spread
out as a mighty guardian offering shelter and protection to all that seek it.
Those who have sought the protection and solitude of this
mighty oak are about 40 or so crows. It seems that they have chosen the
majestic branches, overlooking the river, for a special meeting place to
discuss and talk about the matters at hand.
What’s the subject?
Their discussion could be the upcoming presidential
election, or it could be a debate as to whether Gov. Hunt should or should not
raise taxes this year. Perhaps it could be something pertaining to raising or
lowering the Social Security benefits. Or, as to why the state legislature was
called into another special session.
But one thing is for sure: the discussion has become hot and
heavy.
I am sitting at the base of the large oak, listening to the
many discussions as they are thrown back and forth, from limb to limb. It seems
that the chairman of the meeting or debate is having a great deal of difficulty
in controlling the floor (or should I say the treetop?) in the proceedings of
the meeting.
A river tugboat, the Gobler, is slowly making its way up the
river. The heated discussion seems to temper down for the few moments while the
tugboat is passing. Once the boat is up the river a ways, the group in the
treetop goes at it once again, hot and heavy.
Busy opossum
To my right stands a persimmon tree. The tree is quite tall
and is loaded with large persimmons. Sitting in the very top of this tree is a
large opossum. It seems that the opossum has been quite busy, eating the
persimmons, from the number of seeds that litter the ground.
But he has stopped eating now. He has given all his
attention to the heated arguments and discussions over in the top of the large
oak tree.
The opossum seems to think that now would be a good time for
the group of crows to call in one or more disinterested bystanders to kind of
referee and control the discussions. I kind of think that it would be a good
idea myself. But neither of the two of us has even been approached about this
matter. Since we are the only audience, we feel that we would be appropriate
for the job.
The heated arguments continue to pick up momentum. I try
eating a couple of persimmons to settle my nerves. I should have remembered
that no one in his right mind ever eats persimmons before the frost falls on
them. Now, my mouth is drawn up until I couldn’t participate in the debate or
discussion even if I were asked.
Can’t get a word in
By now, the opossum has grown tired of the unruly meeting.
He has climbed down the persimmon tree and walked away in complete disgust. I
can tell that he wasn’t satisfied at all with the events of the gathering.
I might as well get up and do the same thing. It doesn’t
matter if I did eat the green persimmons and couldn’t say anything; those darn
crows having been talking so fast, I wouldn’t have been able to get a word in
edgewise, even if I had gotten the go-ahead from the chairman.
(Singleton, the
author of the 1991 book “Of Foxfire and Phantom Soldiers,” passed away at the
age of 79 on July 19, 2007. A longtime resident of Monroeville, he was born on
Dec. 14, 1927 in Marengo County and served as the administrator of the
Monroeville National Guard unit from 1964 to 1987. He is buried in Pineville
Cemetery in Monroeville. The column above and all of Singleton’s other columns
are available to the public through the microfilm records at the Monroe County
Public Library in Monroeville. Singleton’s columns are presented here each week
for research and scholarship purposes and as part of an effort to keep his work
and memory alive.)
No comments:
Post a Comment