WAYNETTA AND THE CORNSTALK

     “Once a whip of a girl named Waynetta lived with her Ma on a ranch in the poorest, scrubbiest part of Texas. They worked hard as eight-legged mules, but barely scraped by. One summer, a long dry spell hit. Their well bottomed out, the pond turned to dust, and the pastures dried up. Their longhorns got so thin it took three of them standing together to cast a shadow, and Waynetta and her Ma were forced to sell them off until only one longhorn was left. Finally, Waynetta’s Ma gave up all together.  “We’ve run out of money to buy feed, Waynetta. You best sell that last critter ‘fore it starves." Waynetta headed out with the longhorn. After a while, she met a stranger. "Howdy, Missy!” he said. “You’re looking drier than a pile of bones in the desert! Where’re you taking that sorry-looking critter?" "I aim to sell him, " Waynetta answered. "Hows about tradin’ him for a handful of magic corn?” asked the stranger. "Magic corn?" asked Waynetta. "What does it do?”  These corn kernels will bring you good luck, little lady.” Waynetta studied the kernels. “We sure could use some luck,” she said. “It’s a deal.” When she got home, Waynetta called, “Look, Ma! I got a handful of luck for the longhorn!"  She dropped the corn in Ma's hands.              “Luck?” asked Ma. Waynetta grinned. "That’s magic corn!" Ma shook her head. "You must be chuckleheaded, girl. The only magic this corn’s got is the disappearin’ kind.” She tossed the corn out the window. Waynetta felt lower than coyote in a canyon when she went to bed that night. Somehow, she had to make it up to Ma.”