Red dirt. What can one say about red dirt? The small town of San Augustine, Texas, sits on a twenty-six-mile swath of red clay. Once this red dirt gets into your system it is difficult to leave it behind, and if you do there is a tendency to return in your golden years. The town was organized in 1834 and was the gateway to early settlers after crossing the Sabine River into Texas. Most everyone who entered Texas in the early years passed through the town on the El Camino Real, the King’s Highway. Many settled here while others made their way to San Antonio. It was into this area of Texas that I was born and reared. This book contains 110 short stories of my experiences while growing up during the 1940s and 1950s in the town of red dirt. I have included stories of my married life as we lived in several different states through the years. A few stories of humorous events while working in law enforcement are also included. San Augustine, Texas, claims on good authority to be the oldest Anglo-Saxon town in Texas. The neighboring city of Nacogdoches is said to be the oldest town having had an Indian settlement there earlier than 1834. The debate will probably never be settled to everyone’s satisfaction.