Thompson Family History...and Other Stories

A combination of genealogy and entertaining tales from the family life of Kentuckians, Nick and Dan Thompson. Growing up on the creek was an adventure I'll always remember. Once in a while onSunday's we'd go up the creek snake hunting. Armed with frog gigs, sticks with a naildrove in the end and sharpened to a sharp point, and slingshots. We would search out water moccasins to slaughter. Back then there was all kinds of water snakes in Clear Creek. Black and red striped, reddish gray and black, and sometimes, though not very often, we would see a rusty colored one. One thing about them, they were all ugly as homemade sin. My uncles, Phil and Jessie Lee and myself were creeping up the creek, them in front and me bringing up the rear. Edging around a deep hole of water, I was close to the bank near some overhanging bushes. Suddenly, there was a loud hiss, sorta like a truck tire going down. Looking over my shoulder, I saw a slate colored moccasin within easy striking distance. His mouth was wide open, his fang showing a white interior. He was ready to strike. I felt the sweat pour down my face, and my heart raced.He looked big as my leg lying there on that bushy limb. I was almost frozen in my tracks.Slowly and softly, I whistled. Phil turned and saw the snake coiled up."Don't move", he whispered softly. No need to worry I thought.....[Nick Thompson]