FRONT-PORCH GOSPEL: This life story begins in 1973 (kind of) part 76

Billy Ray,” she started, then paused. I noted she changed from “Pup” to “Billy Ray” for no particular reason, but as precise as I’d learned she was, I’m sure she made a slight distinction in her mind.She turned a little to the side.

FRONT-PORCH GOSPEL: This life story begins in 1973 (kind of) part 76

Everything continued as if a boy in an old blue truck had never driven out on the job and was co-winner of the blue-ribbon award for “Fight of the Century,” voted on exclusively by the chain gang bunch out on the brick job.

FRONT-PORCH GOSPEL: This life story begins in 1973 (kind of) part 74

I also didn’t notice that the black Studebaker pulled up about the time the boy got out of his truck, and Mr. and Mrs. McClain and Corrina were standing out past Red’s truck, watching the whole scene.None of that had time to compute in a mind going a hundred miles an hour.