THE GENERAL'S AIDE IS BORN

You remember Uncle Bob that was not really my uncle. The one who had thirteen children and worked for my Granddaddy Poe during the depression. Well, one of his sons lived and worked in Michigan during the war years. Shortly after it ended, he returned to Arkansas for a visit and stayed in our house for a couple of days. There are two things I remember about him. One, he drove a jeep with a four-wheel drive. It could go where a horse drawn wagon couldn't. The second, he had a very lovely wife. She was tall, dark complexioned, and had dancing, brown eyes. She was what, I imagined, every normal person would dream of when thinking about having a daughter. Her name was Armentia.

When a child is born for a specific purpose, there are signs in the heavens and on the earth. When my sister Armentia was born, there were several indications that she was to have a special mission. The beautiful golden sunny day on which she came home from the clinic was a sign of her future prosperity. The snow-white cotton fields signaled the purity of love that would exist between her and the General. The Lord, through His divine scheme, sent the General to a clean, sanitary clinic for her birth. He had arranged for us to be living in a modern house. All of these things were important to insure her survival. Once she was born and safe, we returned to our more primitive lifestyle. All of the other children were born at home. We had no wise men to tell us of these wonders. Years later, it became obvious, and we marveled.

The General rode home in an ambulance and watched the snow-white cotton pass by her window. A feeling of peace came over her. All those whom she loved would be surrounding her in a few minutes. She was coming home in a very grand style. None of the feelings of impending doom haunted her as it did with Jeaner Jackson. She had no way of knowing that this new baby was to be the one who would bring her the most joy. Yes, this child lying beside her was to be her guardian and protector. The baby would bring her honor and glory all the days of her life. She didn’t know she had been sent a General's Aide. She did feel something; she felt it in her soul, and it felt good.

We all know that aides have a special relationship, as well as duties, to a general. They are not generals themselves, but often times speak for the generals whom they serve. They always have the general's ear. Generals trust their aides with their life and expect more loyalty from them than they do from others. Aides have more authority and responsibility than do those of the same rank. In the regular military, aides are given a gold rope to wear around their shoulder and under their arm. This identifies them as people of position. Armentia was given brown eyes to set her apart. The rest of the children have blue. She was given her height, so as to stand taller than other women, and to give her an air of dignity and authority. When she’s in a room with the other siblings it’s easy to see that she was born to hold an important position in the family.

Now, I didn't know any of this when I saw her for the first time. The ambulance driver carried her into the bedroom where the General was lying. He set the little white bassinet down on the foot of her bed. I peeked inside and there, wrinkling up her nose, was this little baby girl. She had on a rose colored cap and was covered with a blue cotton blanket. I reached over and picked up her little pink hand and studied it. Such long fingers she has, I thought to myself. She surely will be able to pick lots of cotton, someday. I’d no idea a General's Aide had been born. How could I’ve known that someday, from this humble beginning, she’d hold a piece of paper in her long, slender hands proclaiming she had earned a Masters Degree in Education.

My Daddy’s happiest times were when he was around his girls. He loved his boys, but they were for working and helping out. We were aggressive too, and often fought. Boys are okay, but girls are special. They need to be protected and require lots of love and coddling. He just felt more comfortable around his girls. He was like a little boy at Christmas with them. He’d jump, dance around, and sing the bawdy songs of his youth. He had The Jeaner Jackson and now this long, baby girl that was skinny as a noodle. We all laughed with happiness just to be together. Life sure was great and now we were six. The General often tried not to smile at My Daddy's antics, but she just couldn't help herself. He was just a funny guy. Sometimes, she’d bend over with laughter. “Now, John, you shouldn't talk that way,” she’d say and then laugh right along with the rest of us. Seeing that she really didn’t mind, we’d laugh even harder. My Daddy sure was a funny guy all right.

The Jeaner Jackson and I were buddies. Armentia's arrival didn’t change that one little bit. We accepted her as our little sister, and we loved her. My Daddy gave the new arrival the nickname, Boogey. She kept it until her commanding presence, with her grace of carriage, forbade us to think of her in that way. Only My Daddy dared call her that as she grew into her womanhood. He was allowed. No one else was, or ever did.

I want all who read this, in the present and in the future, to know this about my tall, graceful, brown-hair, beautiful sister. No one ever loved the General more than she did. The General loved all of her children, but Armentia held the pre-eminent place at her right hand. All things must, and did, pass through her watchful eye before the General felt comfortable. If I wrote a check for the General, the General's Aide was required to review it for accuracy. The General trusted her in all things. They were mother and daughter. Their lives were linked together with a golden cord of love. No conditions of love existed between them. Their devotion to each other was complete. Armentia had no children. The Lord sent her to be the General's Aide. He didn’t want her to be distracted. How sweet it was to hear the General call that beautiful name, "ARMENTIA." She was the sun that shone in the General's life day and night.

It’s impossible for me to think of one without thinking of the other. The torch of faith had been passed down. Long after we all lie silent, you may in a quiet moment contemplate such a relationship between mother and daughter. I leave you to question if she was pre-ordained to be the General's Aide. I can only tell you that the General is very pleased with my account of what happened in those days long ago.