Everybody in Piedmont knows Blackwelder’s Hardware. Mr. Blackwelder always swept the sidewalk before opening. Every morning. Didn’t matter if there wasn’t a leaf on it. He said a swept porch welcomed decent company.
One October morning he unlocked the front door just before sunrise. As he stepped onto the sidewalk… he heard somebody whistling. Not singing. Just whistling. An old tune. Close enough to sound like it was coming from just around the corner of the building.
He figured one of the railroad men had gotten an early start. Walked around. Nobody. Went back to sweeping. There it was again. Same tune. Always just out of sight.
This goes on for years. He never tells anyone because it sounds ridiculous. Then one morning Sheriff Booker stops by before daylight for a box of .22 shells. Before Mr. Blackwelder can unlock the door, Booker says, “Who’s that whistlin’?”
Mr. Blackwelder just looks at him. Booker points toward the side alley. “Sounds like somebody’s over there.” They walk around together. Nothing. Not a soul. Booker shrugs. “Funny.”
Never mentions it again. Years later, after Blackwelder’s closes for good… folks occasionally claim they hear somebody whistling while standing on that empty sidewalk before sunrise. Nobody can agree on the tune. Only that it sounds… familiar.
Jim says he stopped there one chilly October morning on his way to the Coffee Cup. Didn’t hear any whistling. Didn’t see anybody. But while he stood looking through the dusty front window… he noticed something leaning against the porch post. The Irish Blackthorn.
He smiled. Walked over. Reached for it. A pickup truck drove by. He waved. When he looked back… there wasn’t any walking stick there. Just Mr. Blackwelder’s old broom.
Maybe he’d mistaken one for the other.
Maybe.
Have You Seen the Stick?
Some folks remember The Irish Blackthorn beside the door at Blackwelder’s. Others insist it was only an old broom. Funny how memories differ.
Jim L. Wright is a storyteller with a lifetime of experiences as colorful as the characters he creates. Born and raised in Piedmont, Alabama, Jim’s connection to the land, history, and people of the region runs deep. His debut novel New Yesterdays is set in his hometown, where he grew up listening to stories of the past—stories that sparked his imagination and curiosity for history.
Today, Jim lives in Leeds, Alabama, with his husband Zeek, a tour operator who shares his passion for adventure and discovery. Known affectionately as “Ol’ Big Jim,” he has had a diverse career that includes time as a storekeeper, an embalmer, a hospital orderly, and a medical coder. There are even whispers—unconfirmed, of course—that he once played piano in a house of ill repute.
No matter the job, one thing has remained constant: Jim is a teller of tales. His stories—sometimes humorous, sometimes thought-provoking—are often inspired by his unique life experiences. Many of these tales can be found on his popular blog, Ol’ Big Jim, where he continues to share his musings with a loyal readership.
Jim’s adventures have taken him far beyond Alabama. For seven years, he lived in Amman, Jordan, the world’s oldest continuously inhabited city. His time there, spent in smoky coffee shops, enjoying a hookah and a cuppa dark, foamy Turkish coffee while scribbling in his ever-present notebook, deeply influenced his worldview and his writing.
When Jim isn’t writing, he’s thinking about writing. His stories, whether tall tales from his past or imaginative reimagining of historical events, reflect a life lived fully and authentically. With New Yesterdays, Jim brings readers a rich tapestry of history, fantasy, and human connection.
Visit his blog at www.olbigjim.com to read more of his stories, or follow him on social media to keep up with his latest musings and projects, one of which is a series that follows Bonita McCauley, an amateur detective who gets into some very sticky situations.
His book, New Yesterdays, can be found at Amazon US, Amazon UK, Smashwords, and Barnes and Noble.
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Hi! my name is Sebastian (You can call me Seb!) ...welcome to my Blog. I'm a photographer from Worcester, Worcestershire, England. Thanks for dropping by! I hope you enjoy my work.
DEDICATED to the CROWNING RESIDUAL: To the HOPE, the PRIDE and the DETERMINATION that Somehow Survived Infancy, Adolescence and Adulthood to Burn Hot and Bright Within the HEARTS of the SEASONED SENIORITY.
