Digging Up Bones

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I was digging up old bones and remembered a story
About my younger brother Craig in all his glory.
We lived on Stark street in Phillips, Texas, you know,
When this accident occurred and Craig was hurting so.

 

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Digging Up Bones

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Tonight I’m sitting here at home digging up bones,
Reconstructing memories that I thought were gone,
I recalled the night I was sitting on the washing machine,
Holding it down to keep it from shaking like a jumping bean.

 

 

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My brother Craig at the young age of five years old
Was climbing up on my leg and lost his hand hold.
He hit the floor with the heel of his little hands.
One hand hit on the sharp rim of the lid of a coffee can.

 

 

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There was a 3/8 inch deep cut in the shape a of perfect arc
On the heel of his right hand where the lid made it’s mark.
The blood was squirting all over the area on the floor.
I wrapped it with a towel to try to slow the blood pour.

 

The old coffee cans had a key on the bottom that you took loose and unwound a strip of metal around the top of the can. This left a lid with a  3/8 inch strip  of sharp metal around the perimeter of lid. Mom used the old coffee can lids to feed the cat in. The heel of Craig’s hand hit on that sharp strip of metal and a nasty cut resulted. Today this problem no longer exists as the cans have been modified.

 

 

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I was at home with Craig by myself so I said a prayer,
Then hauled him to the neighbors house who was there,
We loaded into his car after changing to a new towel.
And then headed for the medical center fast as a chaparral.

 

 

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The doctor said I think that he’s going to survive,
I sighed in relief and thanked The Lord he was alive.
The doctor put in thirty stitches in the heel of his hand.
And we went home pampering Craig like a rich man.

 

 

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When we got home, my Mom and Dad were not back,
So I put Craig to bed and fixed him a little snack.
I cleaned up the blood and bloody towel mess
And sat down and said another prayer I do confess.

 

 

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When Mom and Dad came home, I told them the story.
They were happy I handled the event even if a bit gory.
I wondered if I would get into trouble for Craig’s mishap.
But they praised my sharp wits as I told them the recap.

 

 

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Some new rules did develop from the event, however.
They were not too severe, but probably did  stop it forever.
My Mom was to quit feeding the cat in sharp coffee can lids.
I was not to let Craig climb my leg again,also other kids.

 

 

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My Dad thanked and paid back my neighbor named Larue,
Who had footed the bill for the stitches and doctor too.
I guess the new rules must have worked very well,
Since the event never happened again as far as I can tell.

 

Sorry I was so rough on you when we were growing up, Craig. I put a lot of scars and stitches on your body that probably remind you of our rough and tumble growing up days. However, the incidents were all accidents.

 

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Thanks for reading Digging Up Bones,
Bill