June Brides, June Bugs, and Watermelons
By Bill Shepard
June has arrived and most colleges and schools are closed for vacation. Graduation announcements have been made and congratulations have been received; now it is time to turn to other things. At this moment, I can think of no better things to think about that June brides, June bugs, and watermelons! Unless the weather shows better cooperation, I don’t think we’ll see any June watermelons this year. I am talking about the homegrown ones. It is true that watermelons can be had just about any time of the year, but they are foreign grown and there’s no comparison between them and those we grow right here in South Carolina; better still, right here in Darlington County.
Bill Shepard
June brides are not affected by the weather. Proof of that will be seen in the number of weddings and engagements that are announced in this newspaper. Once a person is bitten by the “love bug,” it takes more than the weather to hinder the process of matrimony. Of course, I did hear about the fellow who called his sweetheart to tell her how much he mi8ssed her. In trying to explain just how much, he said, “I would swim the ocean just to be with you. I would wade through blood to get to you. And if it doesn’t rain, I’ll see you in church this Sunday.”
I missed out on a June bride, and I sometimes wondered if it would have made a difference. Mine was a February bride and I’ve been satisfied with her performance for a long, long time. Enough said about June brides! The newspaper will be filled with announcements of wedding bells, so I will leave the rest to them.
Now, June bugs are sort of my thing. Watermelons and June bugs go together. Nothing can attract a bunch of June bugs like a watermelon rind in a secluded spot in the sunshine. It is true that they may be found among the thick foliage of butterbean vines, but I repeat, nothing that I ever tried had the inducement to June bugs like a watermelon rind decaying in the sunshine. June bugs are actually a member of the beetle family, and are often referred to as a June beetle. Beetle or bug, I recall the hours of entertainment I enjoyed as a boy flying my make-believe airplane to parts unknown.
The first vendors from the nearby countryside would visit the village in late June or early July with freshly gathered melons from the field. When that would happen, I would think it was Christmas in summer. There was no better treat to be had than a slice of watermelon. Dad would purchase the melon on Saturday, but would usually wait until Sunday afternoon before cutting it. We would guard it like it was a gold from Fort Knox. After Sunday dinner, Dad would take his long butcher knife and the big green melon and head for the water-bench outside. The water-bench is another story! I’ll write about that another time; right now, my mind is on that watermelon. With all the Shepard children looking on, plus sometimes the neighbor’s children, Dad would stick the butcher knife into one end of the watermelon. If it was good, and ripe, it would just pop open revealing the prettiest color of red that was ever seen. In short order, there would be nothing left of that melon but the rind. Not a hint of red would be left showing. Part of the rind would be saved for the pigs, but a portion would be placed in a sunny spot to attract the June bugs. By the end of the day, its charm would have worked. I would revisit the trap I had set and gather a handful of the victims. I would tie a long string to the hind leg of the June bug and holding the other end in my hand, I would release the bug and watch it fly. I might have several of my winged captives flying at the same time. Around and around, up and down, they would fly, and I would imagine that we were traveling to far away places that I had read about in my Geography book. I would relive the stories about the Magic Carpet and the fictional characters flying about the world. Now, you haven’t lived until you have known the thrill of seeing the world from the back of a June bug. I bet some of you old timers are saying, “A-men to that.” And if there are some who are questioning the fun in such doing, I challenge you to try it. Of course, you will have to wait until the weather gets warmer because you need hot weather for both the watermelons and the June bugs.
Like I said, I don’t think the weather in June will slow down the thing about weddings, “The love bug” appears regardless of the weather, and when he shows up the wedding plans are not usually far off. So, congratulations to all the June brides, and good luck on your matrimonial journey. To the rest of you, as soon as the weather permits, and as soon as watermelons are available and you long for a sentimental journey, I challenge you to try it on the wings of a June bug.
Go ahead, I dare you!
Mr. Shepard is a native of Darlington, S.C., and a current resident of Piedmont, S.C. He is the author of “Mill Town Boy” and “Bruised”. He has been sharing his tales of growing up in Darlington for decades, and we are delighted to share them each week.
His mailing address for cards and letters is: Bill Shepard 324 Sunny Lane, Piedmont, S.C., 29673