This is a PSA regarding the angry asps under the fruitless mulberry tree in our back yard: Don’t walk barefoot under the mulberry tree!

That went for anyone that played at my next-door neighbor’s house, not just their kids.

We all knew the rule, yet we sometimes heard the screams when Karl, Kaye, Kerry, Kent, or Kimmie forgot. When that happened, they always got scolded and sometimes spanked for forgetting the rule.

Poor Karl got it the most. There he would be, writhing in pain from the stinging asp, as mama Georgia whooped his butt, adding additional pain. I felt sorry for the kid, but when would he ever learn?

Although I never fell prey to that particular danger, one time, we were playing tag-barefoot, of course, outside the yard, when I felt something sharp cut my big toe. It turned out to be a broken beer bottle, as we were close to their driveway on the street side of the front yard.

I stood outside Georgia’s back door, bleeding and calling for help as she stood there shaking her head. Better believe, I got an earful as nurse Georgia cleaned my wound.

But at least I didn’t get a spanking!