He Comes Up Smiling

A lazy summer day under a butternut tree sets the stage for a raucous showdown between James, a boastful youngster convinced he has beauty in his blood, and his enigmatic companion, the Watermelon. Their banter, peppered with dialect and absurd pride, spirals into an impromptu “beauty contest” that promises a shave, borrowed clothes, and a judgment from a disinterested Mike. The scene captures the humor and rough charm of a small, tightly‑knit community where reputation is as fleeting as a buzzing bee.

As the trio plans their quirky contest, the listener is drawn into the colorful vernacular and the subtle tensions of class, ambition, and longing for a simple, quiet life. It’s a slice of early‑twentieth‑century rural America, brimming with witty repartee and a hint of the unexpected misadventures that will follow when pride meets a countryside setting.