Alabama Women

My friend, Betsy, and I drove to Ethridge, Tennessee, to spend a day with the Amish. We paid our $10 to ride in a horse-drawn wagon along with eight other women, all of who happened to be from Alabama. Alabama women. Interesting. They were in two separate groups; one, a group of three that seemed to be related and the other, a group of five that confirmed they were related. Sisters, sisters-in-law, or such. The group of three was a little back-woodsy, what with their missing teeth and all. The other group, though, put on a show of keeping up with the times. All five shouted, “Roll Tide!” as they climbed aboard the wagon. The one who sat beside me repeated the sentiment right in my face, so close I couldn’t help but breathe in her words. She noticed that I drew...