The Sasha Riley story sounds like BS

[Jimbalaya]

113. one last detail

A *very* common detail of rural / redneck / farm life was the "drowning a bag of kittens" or "drowning a bag of puppies" story.

Where the dad teaches his son a tough less about having too many mouths to feed.

Gathers up a litter of kittens or puppies born in the barn or storage shed in the winter. Puts them in an old pillow case.

Says, "Son, get in the truck." and throws the tied up bag of puppies in the bed of the truck.

You drive to a nearby bridge, and he says, "Get out."

He pulls the pillowcase of mewing kittens or puppies out from the back of the truck and walks to the edge, looking at you.

You know that if you act sad or scared about the sounds of the animals he will be disappointed in you, and probably make you throw them in yourself to prove it.

He says, "Come here," and pushes the pillowcase into your arms, pushing you to the edge. "Don't be a fa---t, " he says. "Ok," you say, but you don't throw them yet. "Throw it or you get a whooping when we get home," he says.

You throw it in. The sound of the puppies gets quieter as they fall away from you.


This was a basically a rite of passage for rural kids in the rural American south and midwest. Then they'd take you to church and the pastor would scream "SATAN WILL BURN YOU FOR ETERNITY FOR HAVING SEXUAL THOUGHTS ABOUT GIRLS" and that's your weekend.