Feb. 1, 2026
No.. I'm Not!
Death can't hold me
Ahoy, my friends! Welcome aboard the Afro Tales podcast. In this episode of Afro Tales, I take you on a captivating journey through a ghost story that reflects on life, death, and the importance of connection. As we hear the tale of an ornery old man who refuses to accept his own death, we are reminded of the kindness we should extend to others. After the story, our chef shares a delightful recipe for fried apple pies, tying together the themes of the episode with a delicious treat. Join us for this unique blend of storytelling and culinary delight!
Book: Affrilachian tales: folktales from the African-American Appalachian tradition
By: Lyn Ford
Welcome aboard
No.. I’m Not!
Reflections on the Tale
Chef’s Galley - Fried Apple Pies
Fair Winds
After the story, Chef shares a delightful recipe for Fried Apple Pies inspired by the themes of friendship and longing. This delicious treat embodies the spirit of the tale, reminding us of the sweetness that can arise from our connections with others.
Afro Tales Recipe of the week: Fried Apple Pies
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/12680/fried-apple-pies/
Fairy Tales:
The Devil's Dulcimer
https://www.afrotalescast.com/the-devils-dulcimer/
Taily Po
https://www.afrotalescast.com/taily-po/
The Ol’ Witch
https://www.afrotalescast.com/the-ol-witch/
Mental Health
Phone Number: 988
https://www.nami.org/Support-Education/Support-Groups/NAMI-Connection
To Support Afro Tales Podcast:
Website: https://www.afrotalescast.com
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@afrotalescast
Support this podcast at: https://redcircle.com/afro-tales-podcast/donations
Podcast Artwork:
Artbyshalaye: https://www.instagram.com/artbyshalaye/
Music:
Artist: Jason Shaw
Album: Audionautix: Acoustic
Song: PLANTATION
License:https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/
SFX:
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/afro-tales-podcast/donations
Transcript
WEBVTT
00:01.567 --> 00:02.588
[SPEAKER_00]: Ahoi, my friends.
00:03.049 --> 00:05.251
[SPEAKER_00]: Welcome aboard the Afro Tales Barcans.
00:05.732 --> 00:07.494
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm your storyteller, Monna Zinger.
00:07.835 --> 00:15.344
[SPEAKER_00]: Join me as we explore the tales that grew from the people of indigenous and African descent in the Americas and the Caribbean.
00:15.744 --> 00:18.127
[SPEAKER_00]: After, come and see me.
00:18.608 --> 00:21.131
[SPEAKER_00]: Chef, who will impart upon me?
00:21.171 --> 00:23.694
[SPEAKER_00]: It hasn't been for the story you have just made.
00:24.114 --> 00:27.739
[SPEAKER_00]: So with no further ado, let us set set on this.
00:28.440 --> 00:30.342
[SPEAKER_00]: New age of exploration.
00:32.363 --> 00:33.185
[SPEAKER_00]: No, I'm not.
00:39.760 --> 00:45.774
[SPEAKER_00]: Old man was on his porch every day, but he never talked to anybody.
00:46.556 --> 00:50.305
[SPEAKER_00]: He just sat there frowning at the passersby.
00:51.348 --> 00:55.794
[SPEAKER_00]: never having a kind word for anyone.
00:55.814 --> 00:57.476
[SPEAKER_00]: Well, he got sick.
00:58.337 --> 01:12.595
[SPEAKER_00]: And neighbors being neighbors, when they didn't see the old man on the porch, they knocked on the door and they found him sick in his bed, and they sent some neighbor for the doctor.
01:12.615 --> 01:20.325
[SPEAKER_00]: When the doctor came to the old man's
01:20.356 --> 01:24.501
[SPEAKER_00]: scowl and said, what are you doing here?"
01:25.883 --> 01:42.904
[SPEAKER_00]: the doctor said, neighbors called for me because you're sick, you're very sick, on that first the old man, oh wait, so the doctor and the neighbors went away.
01:43.643 --> 01:50.879
[SPEAKER_00]: But the next day, doctors being doctors, the young doctor came back to check on the old man.
01:51.921 --> 01:57.393
[SPEAKER_00]: Old man was in worse shape than he'd been the day before.
01:57.413 --> 02:02.023
[SPEAKER_00]: So the young doctors sent some neighbor for the old preacher.
02:03.488 --> 02:06.411
[SPEAKER_00]: The preacher came to the old man's bedside.
02:07.331 --> 02:11.095
[SPEAKER_00]: Old man saw the old preacher and the young doctor standing there.
02:11.995 --> 02:15.719
[SPEAKER_00]: Old man said, What are you doing here?
02:16.900 --> 02:19.302
[SPEAKER_00]: The doctor said, You're very sick.
02:20.983 --> 02:23.305
[SPEAKER_00]: Old man said, No, I'm not.
02:24.947 --> 02:28.710
[SPEAKER_00]: Old preacher said, You are very sick.
02:28.730 --> 02:29.070
[SPEAKER_00]: Dr.
02:29.151 --> 02:31.993
[SPEAKER_00]: Cent for me, because you're going to die.
02:33.948 --> 03:00.023
[SPEAKER_00]: old man said no I'm not go away so the doctor and the preacher and the neighbors went away but the next day well you know doctors being doctors and preachers being preachers and neighbors being neighbors they all came back to check on the old man he was dead
03:00.998 --> 03:07.809
[SPEAKER_00]: It was a hot day and there was nobody who could preserve that to body.
03:09.492 --> 03:16.543
[SPEAKER_00]: Right away, some neighbor folks got to building a coffin and some folks got to digging a hole.
03:16.962 --> 03:36.390
[SPEAKER_00]: At the cemetery down the road, the men who knew the old man the best laid him out on a table cloth on his kitchen table and they wrapped him with that table cloth and lifted him out through the back window and laid him in the coffin.
03:36.410 --> 03:46.564
[SPEAKER_00]: Preacher said a few words and men nailed
03:46.831 --> 03:53.101
[SPEAKER_00]: The whole procession of folks sang hymns all the way to the cemetery.
03:53.121 --> 04:00.672
[SPEAKER_00]: Then they preachers said some more words, prayers were lifted and the coffin was lowered into the ground.
04:01.513 --> 04:04.358
[SPEAKER_00]: Preacher tossed a handful of dirt on the coffin.
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[SPEAKER_00]: Folks prayed while the shovels worked, the barren.
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[SPEAKER_00]: Then everybody went home.
04:12.599 --> 04:20.571
[SPEAKER_00]: Well, the village folks figured they'd tend to what needed to be done after that.
04:21.572 --> 04:34.752
[SPEAKER_00]: The cleaning out of the house and the selling of the property since there wasn't much value to any of it, and as far as folks knew weren't any relatives.
04:36.554 --> 04:39.619
[SPEAKER_00]: The next day, two of the women folk
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[SPEAKER_00]: in the little village set out to do the cleaning part, to pack the clothes and dishes for giving away or training or selling to touristy folks.
04:52.798 --> 05:02.670
[SPEAKER_00]: When they got to the porch, there was that old man sitting in his chair, graveyard dirt rested around his feet, but
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[SPEAKER_00]: tablecloth that had been his shroud was wrapped over his legs like a blanket.
05:09.926 --> 05:15.273
[SPEAKER_00]: He frowned at those women and said, what are you doing here?
05:17.115 --> 05:19.398
[SPEAKER_00]: Well, those women got the screaming.
05:20.639 --> 05:21.681
[SPEAKER_00]: What are we doing here?
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[SPEAKER_00]: What are you doing here?
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[SPEAKER_00]: You're dead!
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[SPEAKER_00]: But we bear with you just in the evening.
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[SPEAKER_00]: Maybe you are a bit too quick on that.
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[SPEAKER_00]: Said the old man.
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[SPEAKER_00]: I'm not dead, can't be dead.
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[SPEAKER_00]: Won't believe I'm dead until somebody proves it.
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[SPEAKER_00]: Now go away.
05:53.623 --> 05:59.930
[SPEAKER_00]: And the old man sat there, scalling has mean and on reserve.
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[SPEAKER_00]: The women hyped up their skirts
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[SPEAKER_00]: he came back with the women.
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[SPEAKER_00]: By that time the old man was starting to smell a bit.
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[SPEAKER_00]: The doctor checked the old man's heartbeat, his pulse, and his breathing.
06:18.025 --> 06:24.497
[SPEAKER_00]: There was a doctor said,
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[SPEAKER_00]: No, I'm not.
06:26.929 --> 06:28.193
[SPEAKER_00]: Said the old man.
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[SPEAKER_00]: I'm not dead.
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[SPEAKER_00]: Can't be dead won't.
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[SPEAKER_00]: But leave I'm dead until somebody proves it.
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[SPEAKER_00]: Now go away.
06:37.825 --> 06:41.430
[SPEAKER_00]: the doctor and the two women ran off for the preacher.
06:42.351 --> 06:43.613
[SPEAKER_00]: He came back with them.
06:44.494 --> 06:49.000
[SPEAKER_00]: By that time, the old man was starting to smell a bit worse.
06:50.121 --> 06:56.529
[SPEAKER_00]: The preacher and the doctor checked for bread and heartbeat and pulse again.
06:57.651 --> 07:00.795
[SPEAKER_00]: Notice the old man was kind of stiff in that
07:01.670 --> 07:13.565
[SPEAKER_00]: The doctor lifted up the old man's arm to check his poles at the wrist again, and that arm snapped and broken, hum kind of funny at the elbow.
07:14.586 --> 07:27.241
[SPEAKER_00]: Well, the preacher got skittish then, jumped off the porch waving his Bible over his head and friend loud and hard and telling the old man to go back to the cemetery.
07:27.261 --> 07:28.723
[SPEAKER_00]: The old man said,
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[SPEAKER_00]: ain't no use making all that noise.
07:32.637 --> 07:34.600
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm not going anywhere.
07:36.562 --> 07:55.246
[SPEAKER_00]: But you're you're you're you're dead cry the preacher and the old man said no I'm not I'm not dead can't be dead won't believe I'm dead until somebody proves it now go away.
07:57.048 --> 07:59.031
[SPEAKER_00]: Pretty soon everybody in the village was
07:59.990 --> 08:02.599
[SPEAKER_00]: couldn't believe what they saw.
08:02.619 --> 08:09.763
[SPEAKER_00]: The dogs hound at the sin of death and the buzzers and crows flew overhead, licking their chops.
08:11.008 --> 08:12.312
[SPEAKER_00]: This went on for days.
08:12.848 --> 08:22.824
[SPEAKER_00]: The stench got pretty bad and folks got scared especially when the old man started to turn gray and fall apart.
08:22.844 --> 08:30.255
[SPEAKER_00]: But no matter what anybody did or said, the old man wouldn't believe he was dead.
08:31.337 --> 08:40.932
[SPEAKER_00]: Finally, the doctor asked, Sir, How can we prove to you that you're dead and should be gone?
08:42.667 --> 08:46.231
[SPEAKER_00]: The old man seemed to study on that for a while.
08:47.012 --> 08:52.659
[SPEAKER_00]: He scratched at his chin and the skin fell off like dangerous.
08:53.661 --> 08:57.005
[SPEAKER_00]: Finally, give me a funeral.
08:57.786 --> 09:02.231
[SPEAKER_00]: The old man said, you had a funeral.
09:02.912 --> 09:05.235
[SPEAKER_00]: Said the preacher, I preached it myself.
09:05.976 --> 09:08.239
[SPEAKER_00]: Well, I didn't yet.
09:09.280 --> 09:11.543
[SPEAKER_00]: Said the old man, give me another one.
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[SPEAKER_00]: And this time, give me some nice clothes to wear.
09:17.666 --> 09:23.395
[SPEAKER_00]: And if I'm dead, I should have a muck on my grave to prove it.
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[SPEAKER_00]: Folks got to scaring about.
09:28.203 --> 09:31.568
[SPEAKER_00]: Got that man's best Sunday suit.
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[SPEAKER_00]: And the policies shoes and pressed his best white shirt.
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[SPEAKER_00]: They combed his dead fallen out hair, they even brushed his old dead or rotten teeth.
09:46.754 --> 09:53.303
[SPEAKER_00]: They tried their best not to make any more skin fall off, but it wasn't easy.
09:54.825 --> 10:04.378
[SPEAKER_00]: They even slapped some wind and green shaving cream on the old man when they shaved his bristly whiskers, so he'd smell a bit better.
10:05.742 --> 10:14.269
[SPEAKER_00]: The village put its money together and paid for a wooden grave marker with letters burnt into the wood.
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[SPEAKER_00]: Letters that spilled out the old man's name, his date of birth and death, and the words in big letters, dead and gone, rest in peace.
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[SPEAKER_00]: The old man sat in his coffin during the funeral.
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[SPEAKER_00]: sat there.
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[SPEAKER_00]: looking at that marker while the preacher preached and the neighbors mournfully sang and prayed again.
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[SPEAKER_00]: Well said the old man.
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[SPEAKER_00]: That was a fine funeral and this piece of wood says dead and gone.
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[SPEAKER_00]: So I guess I am.
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[SPEAKER_00]: And he laid back in that coffin and closed the lid and was still.
11:05.395 --> 11:10.764
[SPEAKER_00]: Folks waited three days before they put any dirt over the coffin.
11:11.926 --> 11:17.635
[SPEAKER_00]: Had the doctor check every morning to make sure the old man was right now.
11:19.317 --> 11:28.673
[SPEAKER_00]: Had the preacher preach every evening to send that old man on the floor or to whoever he was supposed to go.
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[SPEAKER_00]: They wanted to make sure.
11:33.475 --> 11:54.623
[SPEAKER_00]: that old man didn't come back again, he didn't, his days were over, now is the story over, well, unless that old man comes back, I guess it is, the
11:59.969 --> 12:08.123
[SPEAKER_00]: Wow, this is a great story coming from the Afro-Latchin Tales.
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[SPEAKER_00]: Folk Tales from the African American Appalachian tradition by Lynn Ford.
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[SPEAKER_00]: Now you may be asking yourself, why am I telling a ghost story?
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[SPEAKER_00]: That's because
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[SPEAKER_00]: Traditionally, in the winter months, ghost stories were told to be spooky.
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[SPEAKER_00]: It was cold and a love to tell ghost stories, so here on AfroTails podcast, we're going to try to do the same thing.
12:45.142 --> 12:54.394
[SPEAKER_00]: Now, this story in particular is said to be similar to a story called
12:55.167 --> 13:00.295
[SPEAKER_00]: the doctor to the dead by John Pinnon in 1946.
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[SPEAKER_00]: I will be looking for that story for you guys, but I love this story.
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[SPEAKER_00]: It reminds me of how we all are, right?
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[SPEAKER_00]: No one wants to die, honestly.
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[SPEAKER_00]: We all wish we couldn't live forever, but, you know, Latin phrase is the Latin phrase when meant to more.
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[SPEAKER_00]: Remember, you must die, you know.
13:31.448 --> 13:45.408
[SPEAKER_00]: And this old man, I feel because he didn't have the family to cry over him and take care of him in his final days.
13:45.468 --> 13:53.119
[SPEAKER_00]: When it was his time to go, he wanted people to show him some kind of love.
13:54.010 --> 14:05.205
[SPEAKER_00]: And that's why he wouldn't go until they could prove it to me, you know, have the preacher put, you know, do a sermon that really meant something.
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[SPEAKER_00]: Have him be dressed in something that said, I take care of this man, I am taking care of.
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[SPEAKER_00]: Have people truly mourn his passing.
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[SPEAKER_00]: And I believe that's what this is, but also another message in this story is, don't be that old honorary person, be friendly to people and you will have that send off that you want, you know, be kind to someone, anyone,
14:48.719 --> 14:57.919
[SPEAKER_00]: That can, when it's your time to go, take care of you the way you want to be taken care of, you know.
14:59.688 --> 15:04.354
[SPEAKER_00]: They say you're gonna go out the way you came in, and that's by yourself.
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[SPEAKER_00]: But that's not true.
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[SPEAKER_00]: Many of us were born with twins and triplets and six tuplets.
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[SPEAKER_00]: And so we didn't come into the world alone.
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[SPEAKER_00]: You know, I understand what they're trying to say, but we didn't.
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[SPEAKER_00]: You didn't come into this world by yourself.
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[SPEAKER_00]: Your mother was there.
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[SPEAKER_00]: If no one else, your mother was there.
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[SPEAKER_00]: Now she may be gone before it's time for you to go, but you didn't come in a long you don't have to go out alone either, okay?
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[SPEAKER_00]: Find somebody that loves you, love somebody, be kind
15:45.773 --> 15:52.942
[SPEAKER_00]: And when it's your time to go, somebody will have some kind of words to say, for you, all right?
15:54.183 --> 15:55.705
[SPEAKER_00]: Well, keep this quick.
15:57.227 --> 16:15.730
[SPEAKER_00]: Chef has a wonderfully tasty recipe for you, and so, until next time, thank you for coming on this journey with me, and thank you for telling a friend about us.
16:27.269 --> 16:28.591
[SPEAKER_00]: Welcome my friends to the gallery.
16:28.791 --> 16:36.642
[SPEAKER_00]: I am your chef, chef, and today we have a wonderful recipe inspired by the story of dessert.
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[SPEAKER_00]: Today we will be creating fried apple pies.
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[SPEAKER_00]: Now, what do you need for this succulent sweet and tasty recipe?
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[SPEAKER_00]: For the pastry, two cups of all purpose flour, one teaspoon of salt, half a cup of shortening or butter chilled, half a cup of cold water, with the apple filling, two apples, peeled, cold and diced, one cup of white sugar or two taste, one eighth teaspoon ground cinnamon,
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[SPEAKER_00]: one quote oil for frying or as needed.
17:27.585 --> 17:30.948
[SPEAKER_00]: Now, how do you put this together?
17:31.749 --> 17:32.049
[SPEAKER_00]: Easy.
17:32.990 --> 17:38.356
[SPEAKER_00]: To make the pastry, sit flour and salt together in a large bowl.
17:39.257 --> 17:49.707
[SPEAKER_00]: Coat in shortening with two knives or a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
17:51.577 --> 18:00.990
[SPEAKER_00]: Now add cold water, one tablespoon at a time, tossing with a fork until the flower mixture is moistened.
18:01.932 --> 18:05.076
[SPEAKER_00]: Do not add more water than you need.
18:05.977 --> 18:12.186
[SPEAKER_00]: When you squeeze a handful of moist in the pastry mixture, it should form a ball.
18:13.147 --> 18:21.499
[SPEAKER_00]: Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
18:22.154 --> 18:31.304
[SPEAKER_00]: Place the apples in a saucepan, combine the sugar and cinnamon, pull over the apples and toss to cook.
18:32.205 --> 18:44.719
[SPEAKER_00]: Cook covered in a saucepan on low heat until soft, mash with a fork to make thick apple sauce, set aside to cook.
18:46.927 --> 19:05.272
[SPEAKER_00]: Now, roll your dough on a lightly flowered surface to 180 thickness, cut out 84 inch rounds with a large cookie cutter.
19:05.292 --> 19:15.887
[SPEAKER_00]: Then place one heaping tablespoon of applesauce in the center of each
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[SPEAKER_00]: fold in half and press the edge with a fork to seal.
19:23.936 --> 19:26.661
[SPEAKER_00]: Repeat with remaining pastries and filling.
19:28.383 --> 19:40.963
[SPEAKER_00]: Now you can hit the oil in a deep fire or large saucepan to 375 degrees Fahrenheit or 190 degrees
19:42.260 --> 19:51.735
[SPEAKER_00]: lower pies carefully, carefully into the hut wall in patches, fry until golden brown.
19:53.097 --> 19:55.782
[SPEAKER_00]: About two to three minutes, on each side.
19:56.763 --> 20:04.015
[SPEAKER_00]: Transfer to a paper towel lined plate to drain, repeat with remaining pies.
20:05.007 --> 20:06.510
[SPEAKER_00]: and that is it my friends.
20:06.971 --> 20:24.602
[SPEAKER_00]: Now go make this recipe yours and until I have another one of recipe you remember the old man and how he would not listen and you listen until next time my friends as always enjoy!
00:01.567 --> 00:02.588
[SPEAKER_00]: Ahoi, my friends.
00:03.049 --> 00:05.251
[SPEAKER_00]: Welcome aboard the Afro Tales Barcans.
00:05.732 --> 00:07.494
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm your storyteller, Monna Zinger.
00:07.835 --> 00:15.344
[SPEAKER_00]: Join me as we explore the tales that grew from the people of indigenous and African descent in the Americas and the Caribbean.
00:15.744 --> 00:18.127
[SPEAKER_00]: After, come and see me.
00:18.608 --> 00:21.131
[SPEAKER_00]: Chef, who will impart upon me?
00:21.171 --> 00:23.694
[SPEAKER_00]: It hasn't been for the story you have just made.
00:24.114 --> 00:27.739
[SPEAKER_00]: So with no further ado, let us set set on this.
00:28.440 --> 00:30.342
[SPEAKER_00]: New age of exploration.
00:32.363 --> 00:33.185
[SPEAKER_00]: No, I'm not.
00:39.760 --> 00:45.774
[SPEAKER_00]: Old man was on his porch every day, but he never talked to anybody.
00:46.556 --> 00:50.305
[SPEAKER_00]: He just sat there frowning at the passersby.
00:51.348 --> 00:55.794
[SPEAKER_00]: never having a kind word for anyone.
00:55.814 --> 00:57.476
[SPEAKER_00]: Well, he got sick.
00:58.337 --> 01:12.595
[SPEAKER_00]: And neighbors being neighbors, when they didn't see the old man on the porch, they knocked on the door and they found him sick in his bed, and they sent some neighbor for the doctor.
01:12.615 --> 01:20.325
[SPEAKER_00]: When the doctor came to the old man's
01:20.356 --> 01:24.501
[SPEAKER_00]: scowl and said, what are you doing here?"
01:25.883 --> 01:42.904
[SPEAKER_00]: the doctor said, neighbors called for me because you're sick, you're very sick, on that first the old man, oh wait, so the doctor and the neighbors went away.
01:43.643 --> 01:50.879
[SPEAKER_00]: But the next day, doctors being doctors, the young doctor came back to check on the old man.
01:51.921 --> 01:57.393
[SPEAKER_00]: Old man was in worse shape than he'd been the day before.
01:57.413 --> 02:02.023
[SPEAKER_00]: So the young doctors sent some neighbor for the old preacher.
02:03.488 --> 02:06.411
[SPEAKER_00]: The preacher came to the old man's bedside.
02:07.331 --> 02:11.095
[SPEAKER_00]: Old man saw the old preacher and the young doctor standing there.
02:11.995 --> 02:15.719
[SPEAKER_00]: Old man said, What are you doing here?
02:16.900 --> 02:19.302
[SPEAKER_00]: The doctor said, You're very sick.
02:20.983 --> 02:23.305
[SPEAKER_00]: Old man said, No, I'm not.
02:24.947 --> 02:28.710
[SPEAKER_00]: Old preacher said, You are very sick.
02:28.730 --> 02:29.070
[SPEAKER_00]: Dr.
02:29.151 --> 02:31.993
[SPEAKER_00]: Cent for me, because you're going to die.
02:33.948 --> 03:00.023
[SPEAKER_00]: old man said no I'm not go away so the doctor and the preacher and the neighbors went away but the next day well you know doctors being doctors and preachers being preachers and neighbors being neighbors they all came back to check on the old man he was dead
03:00.998 --> 03:07.809
[SPEAKER_00]: It was a hot day and there was nobody who could preserve that to body.
03:09.492 --> 03:16.543
[SPEAKER_00]: Right away, some neighbor folks got to building a coffin and some folks got to digging a hole.
03:16.962 --> 03:36.390
[SPEAKER_00]: At the cemetery down the road, the men who knew the old man the best laid him out on a table cloth on his kitchen table and they wrapped him with that table cloth and lifted him out through the back window and laid him in the coffin.
03:36.410 --> 03:46.564
[SPEAKER_00]: Preacher said a few words and men nailed
03:46.831 --> 03:53.101
[SPEAKER_00]: The whole procession of folks sang hymns all the way to the cemetery.
03:53.121 --> 04:00.672
[SPEAKER_00]: Then they preachers said some more words, prayers were lifted and the coffin was lowered into the ground.
04:01.513 --> 04:04.358
[SPEAKER_00]: Preacher tossed a handful of dirt on the coffin.
04:05.259 --> 04:08.985
[SPEAKER_00]: Folks prayed while the shovels worked, the barren.
04:09.946 --> 04:11.168
[SPEAKER_00]: Then everybody went home.
04:12.599 --> 04:20.571
[SPEAKER_00]: Well, the village folks figured they'd tend to what needed to be done after that.
04:21.572 --> 04:34.752
[SPEAKER_00]: The cleaning out of the house and the selling of the property since there wasn't much value to any of it, and as far as folks knew weren't any relatives.
04:36.554 --> 04:39.619
[SPEAKER_00]: The next day, two of the women folk
04:40.443 --> 04:50.916
[SPEAKER_00]: in the little village set out to do the cleaning part, to pack the clothes and dishes for giving away or training or selling to touristy folks.
04:52.798 --> 05:02.670
[SPEAKER_00]: When they got to the porch, there was that old man sitting in his chair, graveyard dirt rested around his feet, but
05:03.038 --> 05:09.085
[SPEAKER_00]: tablecloth that had been his shroud was wrapped over his legs like a blanket.
05:09.926 --> 05:15.273
[SPEAKER_00]: He frowned at those women and said, what are you doing here?
05:17.115 --> 05:19.398
[SPEAKER_00]: Well, those women got the screaming.
05:20.639 --> 05:21.681
[SPEAKER_00]: What are we doing here?
05:22.862 --> 05:24.364
[SPEAKER_00]: What are you doing here?
05:24.664 --> 05:32.033
[SPEAKER_00]: You're dead!
05:33.903 --> 05:35.945
[SPEAKER_00]: But we bear with you just in the evening.
05:37.787 --> 05:41.391
[SPEAKER_00]: Maybe you are a bit too quick on that.
05:42.071 --> 05:42.912
[SPEAKER_00]: Said the old man.
05:44.013 --> 05:46.316
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm not dead, can't be dead.
05:46.896 --> 05:50.280
[SPEAKER_00]: Won't believe I'm dead until somebody proves it.
05:51.081 --> 05:51.962
[SPEAKER_00]: Now go away.
05:53.623 --> 05:59.930
[SPEAKER_00]: And the old man sat there, scalling has mean and on reserve.
05:59.950 --> 06:03.133
[SPEAKER_00]: The women hyped up their skirts
06:03.839 --> 06:07.025
[SPEAKER_00]: he came back with the women.
06:07.045 --> 06:11.333
[SPEAKER_00]: By that time the old man was starting to smell a bit.
06:11.353 --> 06:16.021
[SPEAKER_00]: The doctor checked the old man's heartbeat, his pulse, and his breathing.
06:18.025 --> 06:24.497
[SPEAKER_00]: There was a doctor said,
06:25.085 --> 06:26.288
[SPEAKER_00]: No, I'm not.
06:26.929 --> 06:28.193
[SPEAKER_00]: Said the old man.
06:29.055 --> 06:29.817
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm not dead.
06:30.418 --> 06:31.681
[SPEAKER_00]: Can't be dead won't.
06:32.122 --> 06:34.668
[SPEAKER_00]: But leave I'm dead until somebody proves it.
06:35.109 --> 06:36.613
[SPEAKER_00]: Now go away.
06:37.825 --> 06:41.430
[SPEAKER_00]: the doctor and the two women ran off for the preacher.
06:42.351 --> 06:43.613
[SPEAKER_00]: He came back with them.
06:44.494 --> 06:49.000
[SPEAKER_00]: By that time, the old man was starting to smell a bit worse.
06:50.121 --> 06:56.529
[SPEAKER_00]: The preacher and the doctor checked for bread and heartbeat and pulse again.
06:57.651 --> 07:00.795
[SPEAKER_00]: Notice the old man was kind of stiff in that
07:01.670 --> 07:13.565
[SPEAKER_00]: The doctor lifted up the old man's arm to check his poles at the wrist again, and that arm snapped and broken, hum kind of funny at the elbow.
07:14.586 --> 07:27.241
[SPEAKER_00]: Well, the preacher got skittish then, jumped off the porch waving his Bible over his head and friend loud and hard and telling the old man to go back to the cemetery.
07:27.261 --> 07:28.723
[SPEAKER_00]: The old man said,
07:29.193 --> 07:31.896
[SPEAKER_00]: ain't no use making all that noise.
07:32.637 --> 07:34.600
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm not going anywhere.
07:36.562 --> 07:55.246
[SPEAKER_00]: But you're you're you're you're dead cry the preacher and the old man said no I'm not I'm not dead can't be dead won't believe I'm dead until somebody proves it now go away.
07:57.048 --> 07:59.031
[SPEAKER_00]: Pretty soon everybody in the village was
07:59.990 --> 08:02.599
[SPEAKER_00]: couldn't believe what they saw.
08:02.619 --> 08:09.763
[SPEAKER_00]: The dogs hound at the sin of death and the buzzers and crows flew overhead, licking their chops.
08:11.008 --> 08:12.312
[SPEAKER_00]: This went on for days.
08:12.848 --> 08:22.824
[SPEAKER_00]: The stench got pretty bad and folks got scared especially when the old man started to turn gray and fall apart.
08:22.844 --> 08:30.255
[SPEAKER_00]: But no matter what anybody did or said, the old man wouldn't believe he was dead.
08:31.337 --> 08:40.932
[SPEAKER_00]: Finally, the doctor asked, Sir, How can we prove to you that you're dead and should be gone?
08:42.667 --> 08:46.231
[SPEAKER_00]: The old man seemed to study on that for a while.
08:47.012 --> 08:52.659
[SPEAKER_00]: He scratched at his chin and the skin fell off like dangerous.
08:53.661 --> 08:57.005
[SPEAKER_00]: Finally, give me a funeral.
08:57.786 --> 09:02.231
[SPEAKER_00]: The old man said, you had a funeral.
09:02.912 --> 09:05.235
[SPEAKER_00]: Said the preacher, I preached it myself.
09:05.976 --> 09:08.239
[SPEAKER_00]: Well, I didn't yet.
09:09.280 --> 09:11.543
[SPEAKER_00]: Said the old man, give me another one.
09:12.738 --> 09:16.784
[SPEAKER_00]: And this time, give me some nice clothes to wear.
09:17.666 --> 09:23.395
[SPEAKER_00]: And if I'm dead, I should have a muck on my grave to prove it.
09:25.198 --> 09:27.401
[SPEAKER_00]: Folks got to scaring about.
09:28.203 --> 09:31.568
[SPEAKER_00]: Got that man's best Sunday suit.
09:31.588 --> 09:35.995
[SPEAKER_00]: And the policies shoes and pressed his best white shirt.
09:36.380 --> 09:45.372
[SPEAKER_00]: They combed his dead fallen out hair, they even brushed his old dead or rotten teeth.
09:46.754 --> 09:53.303
[SPEAKER_00]: They tried their best not to make any more skin fall off, but it wasn't easy.
09:54.825 --> 10:04.378
[SPEAKER_00]: They even slapped some wind and green shaving cream on the old man when they shaved his bristly whiskers, so he'd smell a bit better.
10:05.742 --> 10:14.269
[SPEAKER_00]: The village put its money together and paid for a wooden grave marker with letters burnt into the wood.
10:14.890 --> 10:27.200
[SPEAKER_00]: Letters that spilled out the old man's name, his date of birth and death, and the words in big letters, dead and gone, rest in peace.
10:29.683 --> 10:34.106
[SPEAKER_00]: The old man sat in his coffin during the funeral.
10:34.126 --> 10:34.787
[SPEAKER_00]: sat there.
10:34.953 --> 10:42.500
[SPEAKER_00]: looking at that marker while the preacher preached and the neighbors mournfully sang and prayed again.
10:44.382 --> 10:45.984
[SPEAKER_00]: Well said the old man.
10:46.764 --> 10:53.871
[SPEAKER_00]: That was a fine funeral and this piece of wood says dead and gone.
10:55.313 --> 10:57.174
[SPEAKER_00]: So I guess I am.
10:58.816 --> 11:03.981
[SPEAKER_00]: And he laid back in that coffin and closed the lid and was still.
11:05.395 --> 11:10.764
[SPEAKER_00]: Folks waited three days before they put any dirt over the coffin.
11:11.926 --> 11:17.635
[SPEAKER_00]: Had the doctor check every morning to make sure the old man was right now.
11:19.317 --> 11:28.673
[SPEAKER_00]: Had the preacher preach every evening to send that old man on the floor or to whoever he was supposed to go.
11:30.095 --> 11:32.078
[SPEAKER_00]: They wanted to make sure.
11:33.475 --> 11:54.623
[SPEAKER_00]: that old man didn't come back again, he didn't, his days were over, now is the story over, well, unless that old man comes back, I guess it is, the
11:59.969 --> 12:08.123
[SPEAKER_00]: Wow, this is a great story coming from the Afro-Latchin Tales.
12:09.405 --> 12:16.096
[SPEAKER_00]: Folk Tales from the African American Appalachian tradition by Lynn Ford.
12:17.118 --> 12:22.707
[SPEAKER_00]: Now you may be asking yourself, why am I telling a ghost story?
12:23.388 --> 12:24.610
[SPEAKER_00]: That's because
12:25.096 --> 12:34.809
[SPEAKER_00]: Traditionally, in the winter months, ghost stories were told to be spooky.
12:35.389 --> 12:44.221
[SPEAKER_00]: It was cold and a love to tell ghost stories, so here on AfroTails podcast, we're going to try to do the same thing.
12:45.142 --> 12:54.394
[SPEAKER_00]: Now, this story in particular is said to be similar to a story called
12:55.167 --> 13:00.295
[SPEAKER_00]: the doctor to the dead by John Pinnon in 1946.
13:00.475 --> 13:07.407
[SPEAKER_00]: I will be looking for that story for you guys, but I love this story.
13:07.907 --> 13:12.595
[SPEAKER_00]: It reminds me of how we all are, right?
13:13.977 --> 13:17.783
[SPEAKER_00]: No one wants to die, honestly.
13:18.337 --> 13:26.479
[SPEAKER_00]: We all wish we couldn't live forever, but, you know, Latin phrase is the Latin phrase when meant to more.
13:26.800 --> 13:30.490
[SPEAKER_00]: Remember, you must die, you know.
13:31.448 --> 13:45.408
[SPEAKER_00]: And this old man, I feel because he didn't have the family to cry over him and take care of him in his final days.
13:45.468 --> 13:53.119
[SPEAKER_00]: When it was his time to go, he wanted people to show him some kind of love.
13:54.010 --> 14:05.205
[SPEAKER_00]: And that's why he wouldn't go until they could prove it to me, you know, have the preacher put, you know, do a sermon that really meant something.
14:06.467 --> 14:15.499
[SPEAKER_00]: Have him be dressed in something that said, I take care of this man, I am taking care of.
14:17.401 --> 14:21.587
[SPEAKER_00]: Have people truly mourn his passing.
14:22.715 --> 14:47.608
[SPEAKER_00]: And I believe that's what this is, but also another message in this story is, don't be that old honorary person, be friendly to people and you will have that send off that you want, you know, be kind to someone, anyone,
14:48.719 --> 14:57.919
[SPEAKER_00]: That can, when it's your time to go, take care of you the way you want to be taken care of, you know.
14:59.688 --> 15:04.354
[SPEAKER_00]: They say you're gonna go out the way you came in, and that's by yourself.
15:04.634 --> 15:07.017
[SPEAKER_00]: But that's not true.
15:07.918 --> 15:12.864
[SPEAKER_00]: Many of us were born with twins and triplets and six tuplets.
15:12.964 --> 15:15.447
[SPEAKER_00]: And so we didn't come into the world alone.
15:16.488 --> 15:19.292
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, I understand what they're trying to say, but we didn't.
15:20.393 --> 15:22.836
[SPEAKER_00]: You didn't come into this world by yourself.
15:22.876 --> 15:23.857
[SPEAKER_00]: Your mother was there.
15:23.877 --> 15:26.961
[SPEAKER_00]: If no one else, your mother was there.
15:28.240 --> 15:37.476
[SPEAKER_00]: Now she may be gone before it's time for you to go, but you didn't come in a long you don't have to go out alone either, okay?
15:39.580 --> 15:44.308
[SPEAKER_00]: Find somebody that loves you, love somebody, be kind
15:45.773 --> 15:52.942
[SPEAKER_00]: And when it's your time to go, somebody will have some kind of words to say, for you, all right?
15:54.183 --> 15:55.705
[SPEAKER_00]: Well, keep this quick.
15:57.227 --> 16:15.730
[SPEAKER_00]: Chef has a wonderfully tasty recipe for you, and so, until next time, thank you for coming on this journey with me, and thank you for telling a friend about us.
16:27.269 --> 16:28.591
[SPEAKER_00]: Welcome my friends to the gallery.
16:28.791 --> 16:36.642
[SPEAKER_00]: I am your chef, chef, and today we have a wonderful recipe inspired by the story of dessert.
16:36.682 --> 16:42.369
[SPEAKER_00]: Today we will be creating fried apple pies.
16:43.451 --> 16:50.340
[SPEAKER_00]: Now, what do you need for this succulent sweet and tasty recipe?
16:52.531 --> 17:21.728
[SPEAKER_00]: For the pastry, two cups of all purpose flour, one teaspoon of salt, half a cup of shortening or butter chilled, half a cup of cold water, with the apple filling, two apples, peeled, cold and diced, one cup of white sugar or two taste, one eighth teaspoon ground cinnamon,
17:22.720 --> 17:27.545
[SPEAKER_00]: one quote oil for frying or as needed.
17:27.585 --> 17:30.948
[SPEAKER_00]: Now, how do you put this together?
17:31.749 --> 17:32.049
[SPEAKER_00]: Easy.
17:32.990 --> 17:38.356
[SPEAKER_00]: To make the pastry, sit flour and salt together in a large bowl.
17:39.257 --> 17:49.707
[SPEAKER_00]: Coat in shortening with two knives or a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
17:51.577 --> 18:00.990
[SPEAKER_00]: Now add cold water, one tablespoon at a time, tossing with a fork until the flower mixture is moistened.
18:01.932 --> 18:05.076
[SPEAKER_00]: Do not add more water than you need.
18:05.977 --> 18:12.186
[SPEAKER_00]: When you squeeze a handful of moist in the pastry mixture, it should form a ball.
18:13.147 --> 18:21.499
[SPEAKER_00]: Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
18:22.154 --> 18:31.304
[SPEAKER_00]: Place the apples in a saucepan, combine the sugar and cinnamon, pull over the apples and toss to cook.
18:32.205 --> 18:44.719
[SPEAKER_00]: Cook covered in a saucepan on low heat until soft, mash with a fork to make thick apple sauce, set aside to cook.
18:46.927 --> 19:05.272
[SPEAKER_00]: Now, roll your dough on a lightly flowered surface to 180 thickness, cut out 84 inch rounds with a large cookie cutter.
19:05.292 --> 19:15.887
[SPEAKER_00]: Then place one heaping tablespoon of applesauce in the center of each
19:16.745 --> 19:23.355
[SPEAKER_00]: fold in half and press the edge with a fork to seal.
19:23.936 --> 19:26.661
[SPEAKER_00]: Repeat with remaining pastries and filling.
19:28.383 --> 19:40.963
[SPEAKER_00]: Now you can hit the oil in a deep fire or large saucepan to 375 degrees Fahrenheit or 190 degrees
19:42.260 --> 19:51.735
[SPEAKER_00]: lower pies carefully, carefully into the hut wall in patches, fry until golden brown.
19:53.097 --> 19:55.782
[SPEAKER_00]: About two to three minutes, on each side.
19:56.763 --> 20:04.015
[SPEAKER_00]: Transfer to a paper towel lined plate to drain, repeat with remaining pies.
20:05.007 --> 20:06.510
[SPEAKER_00]: and that is it my friends.
20:06.971 --> 20:24.602
[SPEAKER_00]: Now go make this recipe yours and until I have another one of recipe you remember the old man and how he would not listen and you listen until next time my friends as always enjoy!
