Rita Mae Winglenut - Farm Lessons

The old ceiling fan creaked as it spun lazily, barely stirring the thick, humid air inside the house. Rita Mae lay sprawled on the worn-out sofa, fanning herself with a bent magazine, her red cropped shirt clinging to her sticky skin. Her denim shorts rode up as she shifted, seeking any scrap of coolness the cushions could offer. The sweltering heat made everything feel slow, heavy, almost unbearable.

Boo Boo stood nearby, shirtless, his lean, toned torso glistening with a light sheen of sweat. He was only wearing his shorts, looking like he belonged on the cover of one of those romance novels Auntie secretly read. He casually took a swig from his own glass before handing her one, condensation dripping down its sides. The sight of him like that—carefree, confident, the kind of boy that made girls sigh—made something in her stomach twist funny. She grinned, taking the glass with a playful smirk, though she couldn’t help but let her gaze linger just a little too long.

"Ain’t fair, Boo Boo," she drawled, pressing the cold glass to her flushed cheek. "You get to run ‘round half-naked while I gotta suffer in all this heat. ‘Course, you don’t seem too bothered by it... reckon that’s ‘cause all them girls keep ya warm year-round."

She took a slow sip, watching him over the rim of her glass, teasing but curious. Boo Boo just smirked, ruffling her hair like she was still a little kid, completely unaware—or maybe just pretending not to notice—that she wasn’t looking at him the same way she used to.

Rita Mae stepped into the kitchen just as her father, Clevis, was turning red in the face, waving a dirty handkerchief as he hollered at Uncle Jeb. The air inside was thick with the smell of fried grease and the faint musk of sweat, made worse by the summer heat rolling through the open windows.

“I’m tellin’ ya, Jeb, I just need a lil’ more time! Ain’t no reason to get all huffy ‘bout it!” Clevis huffed, dabbing at the sweat pooling on his shiny, bald head.

Uncle Jeb, leaning back against the counter with his arms crossed, scowled. His dark, greasy hair stuck to his forehead, and his thick beard twitched as he grit his teeth. “Clevis, I done waited long enough! I ain’t no charity, and you ain’t no man o’ yer word if ya keep dodgin’ me like a slippery hog.”

Rita Mae paused mid-step, her green eyes flicking between the two men. She had a feeling she was about to hear something stupid.

Clevis threw his hands up, then grinned in that way he did when he thought he was clever. “Well, shoot, Jeb! What if I settle this debt by settin’ ya up with my lil’ Rita Mae here for an evenin’?” He gestured toward his daughter like she was a prize hog at the county fair. “Ain’t she just the sweetest thing? Frisky too! Y’all’d have a real nice time.”

The sun beat down mercilessly over the pond, the heat making the air thick and heavy. The stillness of the afternoon was shattered by the sound of shrieking, splashing, and the unmistakable rustling of a full-blown tussle.

Right there in the dirt, Rita Mae and Jezebel were tangled up like two wildcats in a burlap sack, kicking up dust and hollering.

"You ain't got no claim on him, Jezebel!" Rita spat, grabbing at her cousin’s wrist.

"Like heck I don’t!" Jezebel snapped back, yanking a fistful of Rita’s braid in retaliation.

It took both Nellie and Boo Boo to pull them apart—Boo Boo with his arms hooked under Rita’s, and Nellie dragging Jezebel back by the waistband of her torn shorts.

Rita was panting, her shirt hanging open from the struggle breasts exposed, while Jezebel clutched what was left of her top, both girls glaring daggers at each other.

“What in tarnation are y’all scrappin’ over?” Nellie demanded, her hands on her hips.

Jezebel huffed, flipping her messy hair over her shoulder. “We was just discussin’ who Boo Boo was gonna spend the day with, Aunt Nellie. ‘Cept Rita Mae don’t know how to have a civil discussion!”

Rita crossed her arms, still fuming. “Ain’t my fault she started barkin’ like she owns him!”

Boo Boo, standing shirtless and confused, rubbed the back of his neck. “Y’all do realize I ain't some prize pig at the county fair, right?”

Nellie sighed and wiped the sweat from her brow. “Lord have mercy. Y’all are actin’ like two hounds fightin’ over the same bone.”

Rita and Jezebel both opened their mouths to protest, but Nellie cut them off with a raised hand. “Ain’t no reason to fight—y’all can share Boo Boo. There’s enough of him to go ‘round.”

Jezebel smirked. “Fine by me.”

Rita Mae grumbled, dusting herself off. “Guess I’ll allow it.”

The cool autumn night wrapped around Rita Mae as she sat on the blanket with Luke, gazing up at the stars. The air smelled of fallen leaves, and the crickets sang softly in the distance. Luke, with his disheveled blonde hair and goofy grin, looked as awkward as ever.

"What's wrong, Luke?" Rita asked, nudging him with her elbow.

He sighed dramatically, looking up at the stars with a serious frown. "Jezebel says I'm ugly 'cause the horse knocked Momma up. Said I ain't got no business bein' here."

Rita Mae laughed, shaking her head. "Ain't no way Jezebel meant that. She’s just messin' with you, like always."

Luke didn’t seem convinced, but the smallest hint of a smile played at his lips. Rita grinned and lay back on the blanket. "Well, if that’s true, I’d be way uglier than you," she teased. "Don't let Jezebel get to you."

The sun was high in the sky, casting a warm golden glow over the community’s swimming hole. Rita Mae was having the time of her life, splashing around in the cool water, her bikini clinging to her as she laughed with her friends. The whole place was alive with excitement as the locals soaked up the summer fun.

Rita’s playful energy was impossible to ignore. As she tossed her head back, letting her brownish auburn hair catch the sunlight, she noticed a few of the boys eyeing her—some more obvious than others. A few even called out teasingly, asking her to take off her top, but she just grinned and waved them off. "Ain’t no way, boys!" she shouted with a laugh. "Y’all got some nerve!"

She swam out to the deeper part of the hole, a mischievous sparkle in her greenish eyes. As she floated on her back, she caught the sight of Boo Boo laughing with his friends on the bank, enjoying the attention she was getting. Rita Mae wasn’t shy, but she knew how to keep them guessing—there was always a little mystery left for fun. "Come on in, the water’s fine!" she called out to him.

The day was full of lighthearted moments, and Rita Mae soaked in every second of it, enjoying the warmth of the sun, the coolness of the water, and the playful banter from the boys who just couldn’t resist.