Old Catcherman was the hired hand on Grandpa’s farm near Gilmer, Texas. He was a giant of a man, easily able to straddle the onion rows without touching the mounds. It was natural at my age to be curious about the differences in people. I wondered why the palms of his hands were covered with tough, grizzled skin, and why his fingernails were frayed and discolored. When he took off those heavy boots that were covered with duck tape patches, I saw that the soles of his feet were calloused and yellow. I wanted to understand why my skin was so soft and smooth compared to Catcherman’s, but I felt uneasy asking him directly. So I went to Grandpa with my curiosity.

“Grandpa, why Is Catcherman’s skin so tough? And why does he have yellow knots on the bottom of his feet?”