Jaye Marie and Anita Dawes

I am very pleased to have been sent a story by the talented writer and blogger, Teagan.

Born on the Bayou
© 2022 by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene
Author Note
This story was inspired by the combination of this photo by Deborah Zajac and the hypnotic intro to “Born on the Bayou” by Credence Clearwater Revival.

When I was just a little girl, I used to pretend I was a fast freight train. On a rainy, sweltering Louisiana day, I played my game inside, to my Papa’s annoyance. When I made a third pass around his favorite chair, choo-chooing and choogling as I ran, he stuck out his arms and caught me. He wheezed, swinging me up onto his knee. “Oya, child… now simmer down,” he began, but whatever playful remark he had been about to make abruptly changed after a spasm of coughing. “Girl, don’t let the man get you…