by Carol Parris Krauss
Daddy told Carolyn, one of the older
church ladies, to always turn right.
Even if it meant you had to go circle
the block, or drive 20 extra minutes.
This 89 year old mountain boy
pointed out that more accidents
occur when people are turning left.
It was hard to tell if he was being
mischievous or issuing true advice.
He did grease the rail tracks when he
was a teenager, and hid out to watch a
train slipping backwards through a
Canton, NC night. Or was it advice
given by a man who should no longer
be driving, but still roamed the roads
in his paper boy hat and bifocals
dense like a Mason jar. Scaring
small children, dogs, and bikers as
he piloted his SUV. I thought about his
advice for several days. I could not
shake his words. I, like so many others
before me, conjured up my witty response
four days after his initial comment. It
still needs a little polishing, but goes
something like this: Today’s roads have
changed a lot since you began to
drive, Daddy. Cars have changed too.
Do the sensible thing, turn left, Carolyn.
I implore you. It may be seem odd
at first, but it’s not dangerous. Carolyn,
Oh, Carolyn, right just ain’t so right
these days.
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| People rallied in New York, including marching across the Brooklyn Bridge, on Saturday to protest President Trump’s immigration policies.CreditChristopher Lee for The New York Times, June 30, 2018 |
church ladies, to always turn right.
Even if it meant you had to go circle
the block, or drive 20 extra minutes.
This 89 year old mountain boy
pointed out that more accidents
occur when people are turning left.
It was hard to tell if he was being
mischievous or issuing true advice.
He did grease the rail tracks when he
was a teenager, and hid out to watch a
train slipping backwards through a
Canton, NC night. Or was it advice
given by a man who should no longer
be driving, but still roamed the roads
in his paper boy hat and bifocals
dense like a Mason jar. Scaring
small children, dogs, and bikers as
he piloted his SUV. I thought about his
advice for several days. I could not
shake his words. I, like so many others
before me, conjured up my witty response
four days after his initial comment. It
still needs a little polishing, but goes
something like this: Today’s roads have
changed a lot since you began to
drive, Daddy. Cars have changed too.
Do the sensible thing, turn left, Carolyn.
I implore you. It may be seem odd
at first, but it’s not dangerous. Carolyn,
Oh, Carolyn, right just ain’t so right
these days.
Carol Parris Krauss is a mother, teacher, and poet from the Tidewater region of Virginia. This Clemson graduate enjoys her family, pets, and garden. Her work can be found in various online and print magazines such as The Amsterdam Quarterly, Poety24, CHO, Storysouth, Pedestal Magazine, and the SC Review.
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