Walk-A-Thon 1932

A Walk-A-Thon 19321

It was during the great depression, that Big Garden City, in Texas decided to have a walk-a-thon.  Very few people could afford to own cars, so this was something just about anyone could join in on!2

Money was extremely short, and food and shelter was the number one necessity in ones life during this time. 3

Many have dreams of owning nice clothing and a nice pair of shoes.  But if you had a large family, which most families did in those days, dreams were all you had.  It was hard enough to a have an old worn patched coat to wear for the winter.4

Our father didn't own a car, so walking was a way of life to us.  We’d walk into town to shop and get things we need.  Because of this my sister and I decided it would be fun to enter the walk-a-thon.5

The first prize was a crisp, new twenty-dollar bill.  The town went all out with banners and some folks set up stands along the way with cool water to drink.6

There were about thirty-five people that registered in the contest, including my sister and I, from the ages of fourteen years old and up.  They were hanging numbered tags around each of our necks.7

Kids were running wild and playing, must of them belong to some of the folks that were either going to race or help with it.8

Tempie Harris' mother entered and she was in her eighties.  Some of the older town folks say she’s older, but eighties were all anyone could prove.9

Most of the contestants for the race was female, while about seven were male.  I was told the reason for this was that the men folks and boys had to keep working or finding ways to make real money.10

Another thing that stood out was only one colored lady entered in the race.  It seems it was her day off.  In those days white folks and colored folks seldom did anything together.  But today things would be different.  Her name was Daisy and she was always very nice to all. 11

The walk-a-thon course was the length of ten miles. Some of it paved, but most of it not. My sister and I walked a lot whenever we got the chance, sharing each other’s dreams. 12

We would tell our dreams of finding a most handsome man to marry and of having our own families, as well as new clothes and shoes.  Mary explaining her dream, said, “ one day she would live in a big white mansion in the middle of a large amount of acreage.”13

During this time toys weren't important to us.  Each girl would get a rag doll made out of an old dress we'd out grown and sometimes grandma would let us play with her old dolls made of cornhusk.  I'd sometimes pretend mine was my child.  14

Mary Virginia was a hard working young woman of seventeen. I figure she'll be married soon. My sister had a beau already courting her.15

I'm Margaret, a mere shadow of my sister at fifteen.  We share the same birth date.  Both of us were born on October sixth, only, two years apart.  People said we looked near enough alike to have been twins.16

The walk-a-thon started early the next morn.  Mary Virginia and me went to bed early; finding ourselves so excited over the race.  It might be near impossible to get any rest and we still had to be up at four in morn.17

We had to do some chores first.  Our mom and dad agreed that we could keep all our winnings.  That made us really happy.  But something deep down inside me knew I'd have to buy the others something, even if it was just a piece of hard candy.18

I never gave it a second thought that we could loose.  I figured we’d both win something.  Chores all done, we head out on our way.  My feet felt like they had wings on them, but maybe it was the pair of shoes I borrowed from my mom.19

The race was scheduled to start promptly at six a.m. on a Friday morn.  The weather was perfect, not too cold or hot.  The sun was rising up high.  There's nothing more beautiful than a sunrise, well maybe a sundown; I chuckled as I thought.20

We all lined up with the oldest in the front of a double line.  We were warned, if we cheated by pushing or hurting someone, or even by calling him or her names, we would be disqualified!21

So off Mary Virginia and I went, not walking as fast as some.  We know that if you walk fast, you’ll tire and also be thirstier, therefore drinking lots of water and slowing down.22

We talked to one another about how we would spend the money.  Then Mary Virginia said to me, “we will not win the money, I will win it and it will be my wedding dowry, so I can marry.”23

I gasped, flustered.  This didn’t sound like the sister that had walked many miles with me and talked of her dreams.  My cheeks reddened from anger and sadness.  I decided at that moment, that I as on my own, and off I too.24

I always could walk faster than my sister could.25

I passed the five-mile mark feeling excitement building inside.  I was one of the top five runners. I thought to myself. I can do this, I can do this, over and over, and I repeated it to myself.26

Determined to win, I never looked back to see where Mary Virginia was.  I passed the six-mile marker and I was in fourth place.  By the seventh mile I was feeling a bit winded, so I slowed down.27

I got to the eighth-mile marker and three more runners had passed me up.  I was loosing ground fast.  Ninth mile marker was up ahead and three runners were going right through. If I wanted to win, it was now or nothing.28

I calmed my breathing and found a fast trot. I passed one runner, then another.  I looked ahead; the finish line was there with people cheering.29

I wondered whom they were cheering?  30

I just kept going and as I crossed the line, someone said to me, you won second place Margaret!  I jumped up and down. “I won, I won,” I shouted out.31

First place was a young man. He was jumping around like a grasshopper in a new mown cornfield. 32

But I had won second.  It was still a good place to take.  I looked around for my sister, and one of the runners shouted, “she quit at the five-mile line.”   33

Well I guess she didn’t want her dream as much as I did.  I had won ten dollars for second place.  I was going to buy me a simple dress and some hard candy for the rest of my family.  If I had any leftover, I’d...34