Down In The Bayou

Sasha was filled with dread as she stared out the car window and watched the disappearance of civilization. She had been stuck in the car with her father, David, and her little brother, Trevor, for the past seven hours. They had stopped the previous night to sleep in a shitty little motel on the side of a highway after driving twelve hours the day before. Sasha didn't understand why they drove instead of taking a plane. Her father, however, had said they wouldn't get the full experience unless they did a roadtrip.

Sasha didn't care about getting the full experience. She didn't want to experience any of this. The only reason they were traveling down south for the Clark family reunion was because her father's mother, who was known to the larger family as Mammaw Clark, had guilted her father into finally bringing her "grand babies" down for a visit.

When Sasha's father had first brought up the visit her mother had immediately said she was not going. That she never planned on ever going back there. Sasha's cultured mother hated her father's swamp dwelling family as much as they hated her, so her father didn't argue.

Sasha had wanted to stay home with her mother. She was now eighteen after all so he couldn't actually force her to go, but her father told her if she didn't then he wouldn't pay for her tuition to college. Sasha had been looking forward to going to college for years and had worked hard to get into NYU. Normally with a few tears she could get her dad to bend to her will. Sasha was always daddy's little girl, but she sensed a change in his demeanor since it was decided they would be making the trip. It made Sasha think it wasn't worth the risk to keep pushing back anymore.

So now she found herself sitting in the window seat of a rented pickup truck. Her father was in the driver seat and her twelve year old brother, Trevor, was in the middle. Sasha thought it was ridiculous that they couldn't take their family range rover, but her dad had said they wouldn't fit in if they did. Who cares about fitting in with these people? Sasha thought.

Looking to her left Sasha knew the answer. Trevor had fully embraced their embarrassing heritage and was singing along to some hick country music with their dad. Sasha felt sickened at the idea of the effect this trip would have on her impressionable younger brother. Her father had talked about how down in the swamp was "a place where men could be men." The idea seemed so primitive to someone like Sasha who was socially progressive about gender norms and aware about the dangers of toxic masculinity.

"We're almost there!" Sasha's dad exclaimed as he turned the truck off the paved highway and down a muddy road.

-

Almost? It's been nearly an hour! Sasha thought annoyed. That's just how it was when you live so far outside of proper civilization. Soon though Mammaw's house came into view as they turned a corner around a crooked cypress tree. Sasha thought it was generous to call it a house. It was a decent size for a house, but it looked like it had been abandoned for years. The walls were made of splittered and decayed grey wood that bowed out in places. The roof was some rusted and wavy metal material. It looked like something out of a horror movie.

When her father honked the horn to announce their arrival a couple dozen people and kids emerged from the house. They were all hooting and hollering with excitement. Most of the men and boys were wearing an assortment of overalls, camo shorts, and hunting or beer branded t-shirts and trucker hats. The women and girls were mostly wearing cut off jean shorts and tank tops or cami's. Sasha thought they all looked trashy in comparison to her in her Ralph Lauren matching linen short set.

"Oh, god it's so fucking humid here." Sasha grumbled as she exited the Truck.

"Hey, none of that now." Her father chastised. "Your grandmother won't like you talking about god like that, let alone cursing. It's not even that bad. Just pretend it's like those saunas I pay for you and your mother to go to."

"Sauna's don't smell fucking disgusting." Sasha retorted.

Her father gave her one last glare before a sea of his relatives surrounded them. Immediately Sasha was hugged and grabbed by these strange, sweaty, swamp people as introductions were made. She didn't know if she was more stunned by their abrupt and invasive touching or the way her father had reverted to talking like these hicks. His voice had taken on a noticeable twang and everyone was calling him Davy. instead of David.

"Lordy, look at that gurl!" Exclaimed a grey haired, older, chubby woman that was making her way down the creaky steps of the house accompanied by a skinny older gentleman.

The sea of people parted as Mammaw Clark and Pop Pop made their way to the front and took them in. "You are the spittin' image of me when I was a little girl. Same brown hair and blue eyes. Skinny though. We'll need to put some meat on ya." She said with a smile. Sasha preferred to think she looked like her beautiful, and elegant mother and was offended by what her grandmother said. She didn't have a chance to respond though.

"She's a whole lot purdier though!" Exclaimed a short, scrawny, and approximately thirty year old man in camo cargo shorts and a dirty white tank top. He elbowed the large man next to him and asked. "Ain't that right, BJ?"

"Shore is!, Dwight. I betcha she gets all dem northern boys howlin' after her." Replied BJ jollily. BJ was physically the opposite of Dwight. He was a big, hulking man over six feet tall with a protruding beer belly and a bushy ungroomed beard that covered the bottom of his puffy red face. Sasha learned his actual name was John, but everyone called him BJ, short for Big John. He was Sasha's second cousin apparently and as an introduction he grabbed her in a big, sweaty, bear hug and swung her around like she barely weighed a thing.

Pop Pop Clark interrupted. "Now come on. Dats enough with ya'll." He took a moment to pause and spit in the dirt before continuing. "Sure y'all are purdy tired from the drive. Sasha you're gonna be bunkin with your auntie Amy-Lynne. Amy-Lynne how bout you show Sasha here to your bedroom."

Amy-Lynne, Sasha thought at least seemed more normal out of the bunch. She was the baby in the family and only a few years older than Sasha. She dressed like she was in the Dukes of Hazard and her makeup was overdone, but she was at least clean compared to the others and smelled decent. The most annoying thing about her was how much she talked. She rambled on excitedly about her upcoming nuptials to her fiancé, Frank, as they made their way to the bedroom. Sasha thought Amy -Lynned seemed far too young and immature to get married. Then thinking about where they were Sasha thought that Amy-Lynne was probably just lucky she wasn't married off when she was a teenager.

As they moved through the house Sasha noted the ratty furnishings and drab decor. The room she reached with Amy-Lynne was barely bigger than Sasha's closet back home. The walls were decorated with pictures cut out from magazines of places Sasha thought Amy-Lynne would never get to go to and it was minimally furnished with a dresser, a bedside table, and a single bed. Sasha realized instantly she unfortunately would be expected to share a bed with Amy-Lynne.

Amy-Lynne was still there babbling on about her lackluster wedding plans annoyingly. As a distraction Sasha asked where the bathroom was.

Amy-Lynne replied "Well, if you want a wash up we got a big ole tub out back. If you need to make water, the outhouse is past the chicken coop."

Sasha couldn't believe it. "You're fucking joking, right?"

Amy-Lynne was shocked. "I ain't joking and don't you curse at me."

"Oh, my god. That is disgusting. What the fuck is the matter with you people?" Sasha was already fed up and couldn't hold it in any longer.

"There's nottin matter with me!" Amy-Lynne said, obviously offended.

"You people live in a literal shithole." Rebutted Sasha.

"At least I'm a good Christian girl and not a stuck up bitch like you!" Amy-Lynne said as she turned towards the door. She practically collided with BJ who had come to bring Sasha's bag in.

"She all right?" BJ asked as he looked down the hall in the direction Amy-Lynne had stormed off.

Sasha simply shrugged in reply.

BJ stood there just outside the door awkwardly for a moment before saying "I brung you your bags. Ya city gals sho do have a lot of stuff."

"You can leave them there." Sasha said dismissively as she waved at an empty spot by the door.

BJ seemed annoyed by his cousin's attitude, but he did as she said and left without another word.

Sasha sat down on the metal framed bed and thin mattress. It's only a week. I'm only stuck here for a week. She thought as she buried her head in her hands.

-

Sasha lost track of time hiding in the small room pretending to take a nap. Her father and grandfather were off showing her brother, Trevor, around. Mammaw Clark didn't bother her because she thought Sasha needed rest and Amy-Lynne refused to speak to Sasha after that, which was fine by her. Sasha didn't care to hear more about her sad wedding plans. They were literally planning to do it pot luck style. How tacky can you get? Sasha thought. The rest of the family had gone off to their various hovels in the swamp with plans to return the next day for the big fish fry. So Sasha thankfully spent the rest of that first day mostly alone.

-

The next day Sasha found out the fish for the big fish fry weren't just bought from a store. No, the Clark family got their fish the old fashioned way. They called it "noodling" which involved catching catfish by reaching into holes in the muddy banks with their bare hands. Thankfully Sasha's father did not insist she participate.

However, she was expected to help prepare the side dishes with the other women in the kitchen. It didn't take long for them to realize that Sasha was all but useless in the kitchen. At home Sasha never cooked. She never did any chores. Nor was she expected to. Sasha didn't think any of it was important anyway and she was reluctant to do anything that would risk getting her brand new strapless, white summer dress stained. To the other women in the room it was made very clear that Sasha thought she was so much better than them.

It wasn't long before Sasha found herself sitting on the pouch alone having been ushered out by some relative she already forgot the name of. As she sat on the creaky steps she noticed how messy and unkempt the trees were compared to the manicured trees in the city. Just like the people. She thought.

Sasha settled on watching people setting up tables, chairs and big pots of oil. She didn't offer to help and they noticed, but said nothing.

After a little while she heard a group of people approaching. It was the men that had gone noodling. They emerged from the trees on a trail leading to the bank. They were all wet, covered in mud, and holding their catches proudly. Trevor even excitedly ran up to show his sister the smelly fish he had caught.

It was a barbaric sight as it had a big slit cut near the tail that was seeping blood.

"Ew, that's disgusting!" Sasha cried out.

Trevor had had a great time and excitedly explained Trevor continued to taunt her with it while explaining the grisly details about how catfish needed to have the blood drained so they wouldn't taste muddy

Sasha didn't care "If you get any of that on my dress I swear I will kill you."

-

It was late in the day now and the party was getting started. The men had gutted and cleaned their fish. Some had gone to clean up and change into fresh clothes. Sasha was disgusted to see that others had opted to simply wash their hands before joining the festivities. Everyone was back now though and they had started frying the fish and drinking copious amounts of beer. Enough that the yard, if you could call it that, was riddled with empty beer cans.

Once the women had brought out the sides and put them out buffet style on foldout tables everyone began to line up to start piling food on their plates. Sasha was very picky and walked past most of the food. In the end she only picked up a piece of corn, a couple biscuits that looked okay, and a canned diet coke. As she passed the fish her Pop Pop told her to grab some fresh from the fryer because it was the best.

Sasha just replied. "I don't eat meat."

That got everyone within hearing distance to stop.

"Wadya mean you don't eat meat?" Questioned her uncle Leroy.

"Uh, I'm a vegetarian." Sasha replied.

That was met with silence until one of her dim witted cousins spoke up and said, "but dis ain't meat. It's fish."

God, these people are morns. Sasha thought as she walked away to find somewhere where she could sit and eat alone.

-

As the evening wore on people got drunker. As they got drunker they got rowdier. Some had taken to deep frying anything they could think of. Some were dancing or singing drunkenly along with the music, some were playing bar games or throwing bones. Her father, who had changed from the dignified lawyer David Clark Esquire to some hick named Davy, was discussing with his brothers and cousins the best way to skin a squirrel.

Once the sun went down the humidity began to feel unbearable to Sasha. It was made worse by the buzzing insects that surrounded them. With all the noise and the overwhelming scent of fried food Sasha felt like she was getting a migraine. She just knew she needed to get away from all this and stood from her wobbly, plastic chair to go inside. Unfortunately, it didn't feel any less suffocating inside and it was still so loud. She wished everyone would just leave so she could relax.

Wait! Sasha thought.

She had a flashback. She had been in her bedroom in the city with her best friend, Baileigh, packing for and complaining about the trip. Braileigh had been sympathetic to Sasha's situation and offered her some pot, telling her it would help her relax.Sasha had thought it was a joke at first. She had never tried or been interested in drugs before and Braileigh knew that. Still her friend had slipped a baggie into Sasha's suitcase just in case.

Rummaging through her luggage Sasha pulled out a small ziplock baggie with three joints in it. Knowing she probably couldn't get away with smoking in the house Sasha decided to go and find a secluded place outside. On her way out she grabbed a plastic lighter left by an ashtray and then she wandered away from the lights and sounds and people down the narrow trail towards the water.

-

Eventually, Sasha found herself on the bank of the bayou. It was dark except for the light from the moon and quiet except for the rippling sounds of the water, the incessant crickets, and the croaking frogs. It was almost peaceful if one ignored the rowdy country music and hooting and hollaring that came from the direction of the house.

Sasha found an area near the bank surrounded by reeds where she thought she wouldn't be seen and began to examine the joints and the lighter in the moonlight. Sasha had never smoked a joint before, but she had seen Braileigh do it enough times to give her a general idea of what to do.

A harsh smoke filled her lungs as Sasha inhaled for the first time. She immediately had a coughing fit. She was determined though and tried again. Sasha coughed the second time as well, but it was more controlled. She did it a few more times until she started to feel strangely light and floaty, but it did not make her feel relaxed like Braileigh had said it would.

If anything it made her feel more tense as she quickly became hyper aware of her surroundings. The peaceful gently moving water seemed more ominous. The sounds of the crickets and frogs were overwhelming. She felt her heart begin beating rapidly and she suddenly felt like she needed to leave.

She started towards the path, but was dizzy and felt lost and turned around. Then she heard rustling behind her and spun around and gasped as she saw a silhouette of a large lumbering figure emerge from the woods.

Then she heard a deep voice. "There y'are. Folks were wondering where you ran off to." It was BJ. As large as the dark figure was, it couldn't possibly be anyone else. "Whadda ya doing all the way out 'ere?"

"N-nothing." Sasha stammered as she tried her hardest to make her voice sound normal and steady.

Even in the darkness BJ could tell there was something off about her. Then he spotted something nearby in the mud.

"Well, well, well, whadda we have here?" He said as he made his way to the ziplock baggie that Sasha only now just realized she had dropped. Sasha frantically tried to grab it from his hand, but it was pointless as he quickly held it out of reach. Through the clear baggie he could easily tell what was in it. There were two joints remaining.

"You're in mighty big trouble, little missy. Dis right here is da devil's lettuce and is illegal 'round these parts. Real illegal. In fact you could go to jail for months for having dis much on ya. 'Specially since you ain't a minor no more and must have crossed state lines wid it."

Sasha was too stunned to speak. Months in jail? Just for pot? Was all she thought.

"By the way," BJ continued, "Ya know Amy-Lynne's fiancé, Frank, is a deputy right? After tha way ya talked to her I'd bet he be real happy to take a little stuck up city girl like you to jail. Fact he'd be honor bound to."

Sasha's mind reeled. She knew nothing about the local laws here. She also wasn't thinking straight. As a first time pot user it was hitting her hard and also making her paranoid. Sending someone to jail for pot would be considered crazy back home, but she could believe that it could happen in this backwards state. She didn't even consider that BJ might have been exaggerating the truth.

"No, please, you can't tell him. We're family. You can't send family to jail." Sasha pleaded.

"Nah, they're family." BJ said as he gestured towards the house. "You've made it clear you're just an outsider and not a very welcome one after the way you've been acting. They'd all be happy to see ya go." BJ said. He made a show of taking a deliberate step back and turning slightly as if to leave before stopping suddenly.

"But," he said, "There might jus be a way out of dis."

"What?" Sasha asked desperately.

BJ turned back towards her and leaned down so close that Sasha could smell the beer on his breath as he whispered into her ear.

"What? No! Never!" Sasha cried as she jumped back. "That's disgusting. You're my cousin!" She felt utterly revolted at his suggestion. BJ had suggested the unspeakable. One hour alone with her. Sasha knew what he meant and BJ knew she knew what he meant.

"We're only second cousins, so it's fine." BJ said casually as he shrugged. "But, if ya don't wanna, I'll just head on over to talk to Frank." He made another show of turning away. This time dangling the baggie in the air.

Sasha's future flashed before her eyes. If she was in jail she would miss the start of school. What would happen if the school found out? "Wait!" Sasha said. She paused for a moment. "I'll do it."

Without saying anything else BJ grabbed her roughly by her upper arm and pulled her away.

It wasn't like Sasha was a virgin. She had had a boyfriend back home. Nate, however, was clean cut and civilized. He matched her in terms of looks, intelligence, and status. Sasha had not felt the least bit ashamed to experiment with him and neither had she been naive enough to think they would be together for the rest of their lives. She thought of him as a good starter boyfriend though and useful for helping her get experience. Although Sasha thought of herself as more experienced than she really was.

But doing it, with BJ, of all people? He was her second cousin. He was also around fifteen years older than her and four times her size. He had no sense of style and was still covered in grime and muck from noodling earlier. In terms of intelligence she would be surprised if he had even attended high school, let alone graduated.