Do It

CHAPTER 9The Underestimater

MEET JOHN OSTEEN

The sun was hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk. Classic Paris, Texas, John thought, as he finished up a grueling day's work on his family's cotton field. “Johnny boy, dinner time!” his mother bellowed from the front porch. Having recently dropped out of high school, John worked two jobs to help his family make ends meet: working in town at the local movie theater and picking cotton on the family farm.

“Ma, I'm famished. What's for dinner?” John implored as he plopped down at the table.

“Sorry, darlin’. Ain't no point gettin’ your hopes up. I'm afraid it's more of the same,” his mother conceded as she placed a bowl of lumpy pea soup in front of him.

“I sure miss your creamed chicken and homemade biscuits,” John mumbled as he stared at the thick soup and sad stack of Ritz crackers.

The year was 1939, and like most families throughout the United States, the Osteens suffered the ramifications of the Great Depression. “I miss makin’ it myself, sugar. But we'll get to have it again soon enough, won't we, Jack?” John's mother queried his father.

“As long as the boy keeps workin’ his butt off on the farm,” his dad chimed from the head of the table.

“I know, Pa, I will,” John promised faintly.

The Great Depression had ripped through the United States, and families had to be all hands on deck just to provide enough food to put on the dinner table. John was used to waking up in the morning to an empty fridge and hearing his mother anxiously ...