Today is Polly Pureheart's birthday. She'd be in her 90's by now but that wouldn't stop her. If you mentioned the word go, she was ready!
She and her best friend, Alice, climbed high up in an apple tree on the farm. There they spent the afternoon lazily eating green apples and finding shapes of animals in the clouds.
She heard her mama call them so they slowly climbed down and started toward the garden.
Suddenly Alice stopped. Her face contorted. "ohhhhhhh, my belly hurts," she cried. "you probable ate too many or those green apples," Polly mumbled. She wasn't feeling so good either. " I have a baaaad belly ache Polly. I need to go #2!" Polly looked at her friend. By now her face was screwed up and turning bright red! "Can you make it to the outhouse?" Polly asked her. "I caaaannnnnn't!" she wailed. "Ohhhhhhh Polllllyyyyy. Help meeeeee!"
"Ok Alice. Look! There's the barn! You can climb up in the hay loft where no one can see you. After you do #2 wipe with some hay!" Alice followed Polly into the barn and climbed the ladder to the hayloft. "I'll stay down here and keep a look out. Don't worry. If I see anyone heading this way I'll whistle!" At first Polly stood by the door watching the Marviggeo kids play across the alley. She bored of it easily and saw a wild kitten dash across the floor.
She started to give chase when suddenly, kersplat! Something warm and smelly landed on her head and ran down her face. She howled with rage! It was poop! Alice's had pooped all over her! She took off running across the yard. Her mama grabbed her and stuck her head under the old pump. With one hand she tried to hold her still and with the other pump up the water for her.By now her mama was laughing and both Polly and Alice were crying. That is how it happened. Its a true story that Mama told me one time in one of her weaker moments.
Her nickname (Polly Pureheart) was given to her by me many years later as I watched her draw people to her. Her life was filled with sickness but she always took time to listen to others problems, heal the sick and brokenhearted, clothe the poor, and feed the strangers. She was my best friend and confidaunt. I love you mama. I will miss you until the day you meet me at heaven's gate! Happy, happy birthday Polly Pureheart.
