FYV Lesson 6: Bug and the Peanuts

Bug and the Peanuts

Peanut planting time!  It was late April, the weather was warm and Wheeler  knew if he wanted a harvest in early September, he needed to get the peanuts in the ground.  He had plowed the field the week before, walking behind ol’ Ham, his red, long-eared mule. 

Quite a few neighboring farmers had taken to planting  the peanuts in the shell instead of shelling them, but Wheeler was apt to do things the way he knew brought success. He shelled his peanuts. So, the night before planting, he was up late shelling his peanuts, careful not to remove the thin red skin that fostered germination.

Little Bug had just turned five and he wanted to be a farmer just like his Daddy. He could already milk ol’ Bonnie, the brown Jersey cow, and he could fill the manger with hay. He had helped plant the truck garden  this year and the early peas had already sprouted. And tomorrow he was going to help plant the peanuts. He was very excited – he was going to be a farmer!

Early next morning, Wheeler hooked ol’ Ham and Ben to the wagon and loaded up the basket of peanuts and a sleepy Little Bug.  It was a beautiful morning, the sun peaking over the mountains in a glow of pink and orange, gradually turning the dark sky to day. Bug ate a peanut, casting a guilty glance at his Daddy. He hadn’t noticed.

As they neared the field, Wheeler told the boy that he needed to turn over the soil and get the mounds ready for the peanuts. Bug was to wait in the wagon,  then he could come help plant.

Bug waited. He watched the sun come up, then turned his attention to the mules’ ears, watching them twitch, and he ate a peanut.  He examined an ant struggling with a bit of something bigger than he was, and he ate another peanut.  Time dragged by slowly and he ate another peanut.

Meanwhile, Wheeler was breaking up the sandy soil, making sure it was just right for planting.  He raked the soil into mounds where the peanuts would go.  He would show Bug how to push the nuts into the soil and cover them up.  An afternoon rain shower would be welcome and would provide the water for them to get a good start. He dusted off his hands and headed back to the wagon.

What was this?  Bug had been crying?  “What’s the matter, Son?” he asked.

“Oh, my sweet, precious, darling, little Daddy, I’ve done eat all your peanuts!”

And he nearly had!

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