Ima and Her Humble Pie

A certain young lady named Ima Knowitall was not very popular with others. She couldn't seem to keep friends too long, and it was easy to see why.

When someone tried to explain how to do something special, Ima would say, "No, that's not the way. This is the way to do it." Her schoolmates, when she use to attend school, revealed some interesting facts they learned in class, Ima would say, "No, this what it is. You have it wrong."

She quickly developed a reputation for being a "know-it-all," and lived up to her name perfectly. Any new friend she managed to make began to avoid her, and she couldn't understand why.

Ima Knowitall thought she really was smarter than most, more creative than most, and very knowledgable about many things. At least this is the opinion she had of herself, and she concluded, "They should take what I say, for I ought to know."

People talked about her sometimes, and one old-timer said, "Someday that young lady is going to be kicked by the conclusion of a mule."

This is how it happened. Ima drove around in her modern little vehicle everywhere she needed to go. She usually traveled alone because of her reputation. She was proud of her supposed wisdom and felt a little above most. Yet, Ima was human, and she did feel lonely at times.

Actually, she did have some good traits. New people liked her because she could be cheerful and kind. Young men found her attractive, so she had a few dates now and then. But nothing lasted long. We know why, even if she didn't, until that day when IT happened.

Ima drove her car rather hurriedly to town over the muddy dirt road. It had recently rained pretty hard and long, and she should have driven much slower.

That day she had an appointment to keep, so she slid around over the wet surface in several places, refusing to slow down. Suddenly, she swerved into the ditch on the side of the road. It wasn't really deep, but her front tires sunk into the mud. As she tried to get out they sank even deeper.

"How will I ever get out of this mess?" She wondered. A neighbor slowly drove by in his pickup, but he didn't even stop or say a word. She didn't know he was thinking, "Ima knows it all. She can get herself out." He smiled and drove slowly on.

She noticed a couple she knew taking a walk in an area nearby where the ground was higher and drier. When they saw her they just waved and went on their way. A few other people drove by, but they just ignored her.

Ima got out and tracked through the mud to survey the situation. "I don't know what to do" she thought. "I'm in a real pickle." She tried to push the little car, but it wouldn't budge. It was too far to walk home or to town, she decided. So she got back into her car and started crying.

In the meantime, at the little store in town, a group of people who knew her had gotten together. The neighbor in the truck told them Ima's predicament.
One laughed and another said, "She deserves it."

But one young fellow frowned and said, "She needs our help. I know she can't get that little car out of the mud by herself."

A big strapping man, named Bill Strongman, said, "You know, John Humblepie, Ima knows EVERYTHING." Several people laughed.

John just quietly said, "But she is always ready to help you when you need help. She is very kind. Remember, Bill, when your wife became sick, Ima came and spent a lot of time helping your wife."

The big guy mumbled, "I know," and hung his head. Everyone grew silent. John Humblepie said, "Who will go with me to help her out?" He stepped toward the door of the store and a few men followed him.

It didn't take them long to get out to where Ima sat in her car. The sun had started drying the main part of the road, so they made the trip fairly fast. John walked up to the car where Ima sat in the front seat.

He noticed she had gotten pretty muddy, and he asked her, "Are you all right?" She nodded yes, and said, "I am sorry to trouble you. I should have drove slower on this road."

"It's okay, Ima. We will have you out in a jiffy." True to his word, the men managed to get her out in a few minutes. Then John offered to drive her home, so she could clean up."

This isn't quite the end of the story. Ima did get kicked by a mule, even if it wasn't a real one. She began to realize she did not not know it all. It took awhile for her to learn to keep quiet when she felt tempted to brag. She prayed about it and tried really hard. She learned to say things like, "I may be wrong, but..." or "This might work too, but your idea may be better."

In the meantime she had an excellent teacher to help her--none other than John Humblepie. It was less than a year when she became Mrs. John Humblepie. The townspeople began to call her Ima Humblepie. Her friends and neighbors decided the name suited her just fine.

Copyright 2011, Kathryn D. Search