Writing Matters - Text Binder: Texts: “ the Luckiest Time of All”

Writing Matters - Text Binder: Texts: “ The Luckiest Time of All”

Clifton, Lucille. (1996). The Luckiest Time of All. In L. Clifton, The lucky stone. New York: Yearling. Permission pending.

The Luckiest Time of All

by Lucille Clifton Mrs. Elzie F. Pickens was rocking slowly on the porch one afternoon when her Greatgranddaughter, Tee, brought her a big bunch of dogwood blooms, and that was the beginning of a story. “Ahhh, now that dogwood reminds me of the day I met your Great-granddaddy, Mr. Pickens, Sweet Tee. “It was just this time, spring of the year, and me and my best friend Ovella Wilson, who is now gone, was goin’ to join the Silas Greene. Usta be a kinda show went all through the South, called it the Silas Greene show. Somethin’ like the circus. Me and Ovella wanted to join that thing and see the world. Nothin’ wrong at home or nothin’, we just wanted to travel and see new things and have high times. Didn’t say nothin’ to nobody but one another. Just up and decided to do it. “Well, this day we plaited our hair and put a dress and some things in a rucksack and started out to the show. Spring day like this. “We got there after a good little walk and it was the world. Baby, such music and wonders as we never had seen! They had everything there, or seemed like it. “Me and Ovella thought we’d walk around for a while and see the show before goin’ to the office to sign up and join. “While we was viewin’ it all we come up on this dancin’ dog. Cutest thing in the world next to you. Sweet Tee, dippin; and movin’ and head bowin; to that music. Had a little ruffly skirt on itself and up on two back legs twistin’ and movin’ to the music. Dancin’, dancin’, dancin’ till people started throwin’ pennies out of their pockets. “Me and Ovella was caught up too and laughin’ so. She took a penny out of her pocket and threw it to the ground where that dog was dancin’, and I took two pennies and threw ’em both. “The music was faster and faster and that dog was turnin’ and...