> > > > > > > Subj: Fw: [P31] Counting Pecans
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > * > > > > > > > > > On the outskirts of town, there was a big old
> > > * > > > > > pecan
> > > * > > > > > > > > > tree by the cemetery fence. One day two boys
> > > * > > > > > filled up
> > > * > > > > > > > > > a bucketful of nuts and sat down by the tree,
> > > * > > > > > out of sight,
> > > * > > > > > > > > > and began dividing the nuts.
> > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > * > > > > > > > > > "One for you, one for me. One for you, one for
> > > * > > > > > me," said one boy.
> > > * > > > > > > > > > Several were dropped and rolled down toward
> > > * > > > > > the fence.
> > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > * > > > > > > > > > Another boy came riding along the road on his
> > > * > > > > > bicycle. As he passed,
> > > * > > > > > > > > > he thought he heard voices from inside the
> > > * > > > > > cemetery. He
> > > * > > > > > > > > > slowed down to investigate. Sure enough, he
> > > * > > > > > heard,
> > > * > > > > > > > > > "One for you, one for me. One for you, one for
> > > * > > > > > me." He just knew what it
> > > * > > > > > > > > was.
> > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > * > > > > > > > > > "Oh my," he shuddered, "it's Satan and the
> > > * > > > > > Lord dividing the souls
> > > * > > > > > > > > > at the cemetery.
> > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > * > > > > > > > > > He jumped back on his bike and rode off. Just
> > > * > > > > > around the bend
> > > * > > > > > > > > > he met an old man with a cane, hobbling along.
> > > * > > > > > "Come here quick," said
> > > * > > > > > > > > > the boy, "you won't believe what I heard.
> > > * > > > > > Satan and the Lord are down
> > > * > > > > > > > > > at the cemetery dividing up the souls."
> > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > * > > > > > > > > > The man said, "Beat it, kid, can't you see
> > > * > > > > > it's hard for me to walk."
> > > * > > > > > > > > > When the boy insisted, though, the man hobbled
> > > * > > > > > to the cemetery.
> > > * > > > > > > > > > Standing by the fence they heard, "One for
> > > * > > > > > you, one
> > > * > > > > > > > > > for me. One for you, one for me."
> > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > * > > > > > > > > > The old man whispered, "Boy, you've been
> > > * > > > > > tellin' the truth.
> > > * > > > > > > > > > Let's see if we can see the devil himself."
> > > * > > > > > Shaking with fear, they
> > > * > > > > > > > > > peered through the fence, yet were still
> > > * > > > > > unable to see
> > > * > > > > > > > > > anything. The old man and the boy gripped the
> > > * > > > > > wrought iron bars of the
> > > * > > > > > > > > > fence tighter and tighter as they tried to get
> > > * > > > > > a glimpse of Satan.
> > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > * > > > > > > > > > At last they heard, "One for you, one for me.
> > > * > > > > > And one
> > > * > > > > > > > > > last one for you. That's all. Now let's go get
> > > * > > > > > those nuts by the fence,
> > > * > > > > > > > > > and we'll be done."
> > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > * > > > > > > > > > They say the old guy made it back to town 5
> > > * > > > > > minutes before the boy.
> > > > > > > > > > > > >