Man, Mule, and Mouse-F

All across those white fields of cotton in early fall, one cotton-filled sack at a time was lifted from the hands of human cotton pickers into the hands of the man on the mule. The sacks were often heavy and stacked high, and not once did I hear complaints from the mule. With cotton sacks firmly secured between man and mule, off they went to the weighing scales. I remember two young men, Bubba and Louis, balancing a load of cotton sacks on the mule by sitting or by standing. They were very skilled at their low-paying task, and they looked proud of their abilities. I tell you, it was a beautiful sight to behold. Quite often when it rained a lot, the mule was used to cut furrows in the fields to drain off the water. This sturdy animal would stop and stand upon the command of his most skillful master. This was at a time when I never heard anybody talking about obedience training of mules, dogs, or any other animals. In my neck of the woods, it seemed that everybody and everything quickly learned their roles and played them well; even mules. In my home and my home town, it seemed that stepping out of line brought consequences that most were not willing to face; even mules. There is no doubt that times have changed and technology now reigns supreme. High tech now rules both man and beast, rich and poor, and just about everything else from sea to shining sea. The mule is seldom needed to carry heavy loads and plow the gardens. But what about the mule’s skillful master who once stood tall and balanced on the mule’s strong back? Man still stands tall and balances with talent and much training. Man has essentially retired that great beast of burden called the mule. The man now sits at computers, moving and mastering a little plastic mouse in the palm of his hand. In this our brave new land of digitals and the new economy, we have points and clicks, man and mouse. Back then, if they had kept productivity ratings on Bubba, Louis, and their mule, I suspect the ratings would have been off the scales. There is no denying the fact that man and mouse working in harmony with the internet is one remarkable achievement; however, such an achievement will never erase my memory of the most beautiful sight in those long-ago cotton fields of the Mississippi Delta. It was there that I beheld the orchestrated ensemble of man and mule operating at their finest. PosttoPSShortStories05132017Condensed032220