Papaw's Store

My earliest recollection of going to see my grandparents is playing with my brothers in my Papaw Overton’s General Store. Mamaw and Papaw lived in the back part of the store. I still remember the address: 3003 West Pullen, Pine Bluff, Arkansas. In the summer of 1965, when I was 7 years old, I stayed with them while my parents took one of my brothers on a trip. My other brother stayed at our other grandparents’ house in Crossett, Arkansas.

One evening, after the store closed for the day, I snuck back in and took some candy from the counter. I hid the candy under the pillow on my bed. I thought I was really getting away with something, but Mamaw knew exactly what I had done. That night, as she was putting me to bed, she said I should put the candy on the nightstand so the chocolate wouldn't get into the bed sheets. And…. don’t take any more candy without telling them. I thought I was in serious trouble, but not another word was said about it. I loved eating Butterfinger chocolate bars, so each day after that, I would say, “…getting a Butterfinger” as I passed the part of the store where they kept their records. I would see Mamaw open the book and make a note.

In the area where they kept the store’s inventory records, there was an old safe. I was fascinated with that safe and would spin the combination dial. That would upset Papaw since he kept the dial one number off the last number so he could open the safe faster. He would have to get the little ‘secret book’ with the combination and dial it in again. I ended up inheriting that safe, and I still use it today. It is fascinating to see the artwork inside the door; it says “Hall’s Patent 1849”. As old as the safe is, it still works perfectly.

The delivery car they had was a 1953 Chevy Station Wagon. It is funny how my first memory of riding in a car as a toddler was from the front seat of that wagon. I recall being fascinated with the chrome on the dashboard while I sat between my Mamaw and Papaw. No seat belts back then, but we survived. I have been a car nut ever since. In Papaw’s later years, that wagon became his fishing car, which he affectionately called Nellie Belle. We still call it Nellie Belle today. My Uncle James got the wagon, restored it, and then gave it to his son, my cousin, Jimmy. Jimmy drove it for several years, then gave it to me. Funny how the very first car I remember riding in is now mine. I plan to get it back into running condition, drive it, and reflect on the good times of my youth. I will need a bottle of Coke and a Butterfinger to complete the reminiscing while I drive.

Back to the store, the summer I spent there, I remember it being really hot. Outside, next to the store's front screen door, was a large cooler filled with ice and bottles of Coca-Cola. I loved sitting in the shade under the awning, drinking a Coke, and maybe enjoying a Butterfinger. Every once in a while, Papaw would load up Nellie Belle with groceries, and I would tag along as he delivered them to some of his loyal customers.

Papaw would open the store early in the mornings. There would be quite a crowd of people stopping for lunch supplies before heading to work. I understand that this was the busiest part of the day in the store. One time, I asked if I could work behind the counter to help check people out. Mamaw said I needed to wait until I was at least 8 years old so I would understand the math needed to run the register.

One day, when the store was closed, we packed up Nellie Belle to go fishing at Peckerwood Lake. The john boat was on the roof rack, and the back of the wagon was filled with fishing equipment and the boat motor. I was never a fisherman; my brothers are, however. That trip to the lake, I probably scared off more fish than Mamaw and Papaw caught. I was told many times to “….stop putting the fishing pole into the water, just let the line in, you will never catch fish like that….” Catching fish was not a priority for me; I was more interested in the boat motor and wondered why we were sitting in the middle of the lake with it turned off. After a frustrating day on the lake for my grandparents, we loaded Nellie Belle up for the trip back home in Pine Bluff.

Early one morning I could hear a rooster crowing in the back yard. The screened back door opened, and I heard the roar of a 12-gauge shotgun, then silence. I heard Papaw walk back in, lean the Model 12 Winchester shotgun in the corner near the door, and go back to bed. Later that day, I was in the backyard and saw where the rooster crow his last. He was sitting on a fence post, and there was a mound of feathers all around it.

In the backyard was an apple tree. I loved climbing the tree and eating an apple or two. One day, I ate several green apples and had a terrible stomachache later. Mamaw, in all her wisdom, said, “Well, now you know, don’t eat the green apples.”

Behind the backyard was a train track. I loved to put pennies on the track, then go back later to find the flattened copper pieces. Mamaw found out what I was doing and told me that putting stuff on the track could make the train wreck. For many years, I thought a penny could make a train go off the track. I think she didn't want me hanging around the track.

Sunday afternoons were nap time. I hated nap time since there was so much to do. I could hear Papaw snoring across the hall from my room, and I knew better than to get up, especially after what I heard him do with the rooster. Funny how the mind of a seven-year-old works. Now that I am the age Papaw was then, I look forward to afternoon naps and totally understand why we need nap time.

In 1969, Mamaw and Papaw closed the store for good and moved a few miles outside of Pine Bluff. The property they bought was perfect for Papaw; there was a lake behind the backyard. Papaw loved to fish and spent a lot of time out on that lake. I think he even knew all the fish by name.