Philip Dampier's Blog

Toby’s birthday came and went. Maize gave him enough money to buy ice cream for him and Hannah. Toby chose the ice cream shop that was just a block from the wall and green bench. He wanted Hannah to see where he would be working. He called it working even though his uncle had not mentioned paying him. The truth was, Toby had no idea what his uncle Charlie would have him do if anything. Toby had trouble eating his ice cream before it melted because all he could talk about was making baskets and how famous he would be.

Then Saturday came. Toby was up early and put on his “work” clothes. Grandmother Maize fixed him a good breakfast and made him brush his teeth. Toby gave them a lick and a promise as he was in a hurry to get to the green bench. He wanted to get there before Uncle Charlie. That way, Uncle Charlie would know he was serious and ready to work.

Much to his surprise, not only was Uncle Charlie there, but he was already at work on a basket. Just as Toby and Hannah arrived at the wall (Oh yes, Hannah would not be left out of the excitement) a car drove up, and Charlie set the beginnings of the basket down on the bench and eased out to the curb. Toby saw the window go down, and Uncle Charlie look in, but he couldn’t hear what was being said. He did see the lady hand his uncle a sheet of paper and Uncle Charlie nod.

Toby and Hannah leaned their bikes against the graffiti-covered wall and hurried over to the bench. Toby wanted to see the basket and how it his great-uncle put it together.

“Well, I only expected one student,” Uncle Charlie said.

“I came to watch,” Hannah said.

“You’re Hannah, right?

“Yes, Sir.”

“Well, this is a workplace, and I don’t have time for play or foolishness. If you watch, you must be still and quiet. Can you do that?”

“Yes, Sir. I’ll be quiet as a tiny mouse.”

“Sit down Toby and don’t talk until I’m finished talking.”

“Yes, Sir.”

Charlie sat down on the bench and picked up the newly started basket. It was not a particularly large bottom, but the weaving was perfect. Charlie reached down beside the bench and pulled a small strip of split oak from the pail of water where it and many more strips had been soaking. He showed the strip to Toby; then he pointed to all the strips that were standing free coming up from the woven bottom.

“This will be the first strip around the basket itself. It must be very tight against the bottom, and it must go in and out of the standing strips. Watch carefully.”

And so it went for the next two months. Part by part Charlie showed Toby how to assemble a basket. Sometimes Hannah would accompany Toby, and sometimes she stayed at home to help her mother. Hannah didn’t mind because she had absorbed all she could without taking part and the experience was growing old to her. Then on a Friday, just before the beginning of March, Toby told her his surprise.

“Guess what, Hannah. Tomorrow, Uncle Charlie is going to let me start a basket of my own. I want you to come and watch.”

“I’ll ask my mom and let you know in the morning. What kind of basket are you going to make?”

“Just a small one. Uncle Charlie said I could give it to you to use on Easter. What do you think of that?”

“Oh, Toby. That would be wonderful. I’m sure I can get my mom to let me go.”

Hannah stood beside the bench, her eyes fastened on the small basket her friend was making. Piece by piece Toby wove the oak, making the bottom solid and tight. By lunch, he was ready to weave the sides. Charlie had brought his lunch as usual, but the two friends had to ride home for lunch. It was the fastest either had ever put a meal away. When Toby rode up to Hannah’s house, she was standing by her bicycle ready to go. They were back at the green bench before Charlie could finish his cornbread and beans.

The basket weaving went on into the afternoon, with the only interruptions being two customers who came to pay Charlie for their baskets. Charlie only accepted cash and both the ladies had the correct number of bills ready. Charlie put the baskets in their cars and the money in a leather bag he used to carry his tools. The basket handle was the hardest part, and Toby needed Charlie to help him with that part of the project. Charlie bragged on the basket and when Toby handed it to Hannah to see she grabbed him around the neck and hugged him. The trio was so occupied with examining the basket they did not notice the black sedan that pulled up to the curb.