Dick Skinner Milks a Cow

By Denver Barnett
As Told To David Parmer

Dick Skinner, the restaurant man of Orlando, was “Dickie” to his mother Patience Skinner. Patience had, however, very little patience with her son Dickie.

Stories abound about Patience being the nagging mother of her bachelor son and how Dick usually complied with his mother’s every wish, or otherwise would face her wrath.

Dick Skinner loved to talk. He would go out of his way to have a conversation, about anything, or everything, with anyone within speaking distance. Patience was often greatly exasperated with Dick because he would let conversation come between him and the work he should be doing, or what she wanted him to do.

One day, Patience told Dickie to go out and milk the cow. Being the dutiful son, Dick went to the barnyard and soon had a bucketful of “Bossy’s” precious milk.

Dick espied a neighbor walking in his direction so he decided to await his neighbor getting closer so that he could start a conversation with him. And they began to talk…and talk…and talk. Quite some time had elapsed since Patience had sent her son to do the milking and she could see out the window that her son was dawdling his time away in a useless conversation. Patience was losing patience with “Dickie.” Patience came to the door and yelled out “Dickie, bring that milk into the house, I have to strain it.” Dickie replied, “Yes, ma, I’ll be right in.” But Dickie wasn’t finished talking so he continued to talk… and talk…and talk some more.
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Soon, Patience was again at the door, and in a measured louder voice, yelled, “Dickie, get that milk in here, I have to strain it.” Dick replied, “Yes, ma, I’ll bring it in, in just a minute.”
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Dick was almost ready to wrap up his conversation and take the milk into the house, when “Bossy” decided to answer a call of nature, lifted her leg, and peed in the milk bucket. Dick was taken by surprise and knew he might be in trouble with his mother. But recovering, Dick told his neighbor, “Well, it looks like ma will have to strain that milk twice.”
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Above are pictures of Patience (Duvall) Skinner and son George Delbert "Dick" Skinner. Also, the business end of a cow.

To the right is Denver Barnett's Burnsville High School class of 1938 graduation photo. Many thaks to Denver for sharing his stoires with us.

See also the Feb '07 entry Dick Skinner's Restaurant
the Sept '06 entry It Was The Eggs That Killed Uncle Dick
the Aug ‘06 entry An Heirloom from Patience Duvall
the Feb ’06 entry Dick Skinner's Restaurant -A Family Affair