Just in case you’re wondering, I’ve always been accident prone. My Papaw E.O. was the same way. But there was one accident that involved the both of us.
To set the stage of how it happened, I need to do a little review. In previous articles, I’ve written about how dark it was growing up out on Papaw’s farm. It was surrounded by ridges and trees so; we didn’t see anything past porch lights. Also, there was a well-worn path that led from the back of our house to my grandparent’s. Only those that rarely visited us went to our front door. This accident happened during that time frame.
One Saturday evening, some friends of my grandparents came over for supper. I was excited since their granddaughter Susie was my age and we always had fun playing together. I remember Mamaw Mrytle/Girdle and Mamaw Jo get ready for their company and complaining about Papaw staying out in the field too long. He finally came in not long before their friends arrived. Needless to say, we had a great meal and a good time. Before they left, we all went out to the carport for a while. That was tradition. When people said they needed to leave, that meant just leaving the house. For the next thirty minutes or so, they would stand inside the carport and talk. While everybody was talking in the carport, Susie and I decided we wanted to play in my room. So we went charging up the path as fast as we could. That is until I ran into something in the dark. I remember being surprised and then I began to hurt and bleed.
If you read the title, you probably already know that I ran into Papaw’s tractor. But it wasn’t just his tractor because he had a large piece of farm equipment attached to the back of it. I don’t remember what it was. I even asked my mom, but she didn’t either. Are you also wondering how I couldn’t see something as big as that? Because Papaw had parked it on the path where no light could shine on it. The light from the carport only lit a few feet out from it. The little light at my parent’s back door was on, but you could only see the steps
that led up to it. So, Susie and I had no clue Papaw had parked it there.
Of course, my family came running when I cried out. My mother and my two mamaws were very scared, especially when they saw the blood. My mom wondered if I needed to go to the hospital to get stitches. That really upset me. Then they blamed Papaw for what had happened. To say that he didn’t like that one bit was an understatement. He said I should’ve watched were I was going. Mamaw Jo pointed out that it was too dark to see it that high up on the path. Then mom asked why he had parked where everybody walked. You see, he didn’t often park his tractor in the front driveway. If he did, he parked it off to the side or in front of the basement. Never on the path.
Papaw didn’t want to be responsible for my injury. In all fairness, who would? So why did he park there? Honestly, I think he was in a hurry since he was excited about their guests coming and he was in a hurry to get ready. He didn’t think about anybody running into it and getting hurt.

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105 (KJV)
Obviously, I had no idea the tractor had been parked on the path because I couldn’t see it. When you walk in darkness, you have no idea what is in front of you. But when you have the light of the Lord to guide you, the darkness is no longer a threat. Rest assured that He already knows what is out there and He will never leave you. (Hebrews 13:5)
I got to thinking about it and I can’t help but wonder how that would’ve happened today. Instead of completely blaming Papaw, they would’ve said: “Didn’t you have your phone to turn on the flashlight so you could better see?”
Brooke Cox is an author, speaker, and storyteller. She was a 2016 Selah Awards Finalist for Debut Novel. Her children’s book: “Dinosaur Eggs,” is now available. It is based on Ephesians 6: The Armor of God. Her novel “Until the Moon Rises: A Conniving Cousin Mystery” is also available. Also, she has two books out in her storytelling series: “Saucy Southern Stories.” The Amazon links for her books may be found on her website: brookecoxstories.com. Please feel free to contact her. She would love to hear from you.