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What to do?
Ray couldn't believe his eyes
His father is still alive
His mother said he hanged long ago
His brother dead? Was that a lie too?
Between father and son, no words were said
Ray eyed the old man with shame and contempt
Billy and Ms Myna soon came
Took the bandits straight to jail
Ray was quiet for the rest of the day
Gyn tried, but he had nothing to say
Seeing his father got him all riled up
AJ gave him the afternoon off.
Ray spent time in his room
Re- read the letters written by his mom
He recalled how hard life was back then
Under his father's brutal heavy hand
Then came a knock, it was Gyn
Early dinner in her hands
"Eat up, Ray. I bet you're hungry.
AJ made us some braised beef."
He took the tray and set it aside
Told her thanks with a very tired smile
She turned to the door, about to go,
When Ray asked her a question
"What would you do if you were me?"
"I don't know, Ray... Mind telling me your story?"
Ray nodded and told his tale.
"My pa's not a good man, Gyn
An indifferent father, a worthless husband
He was always drunk, violent as well
Life with him was living in hell
It was my birthday when I was ten
As usual, he's drunk again
He beat me up so bad for spilling his drink
Didn't stop til I'm black and blue as ink
That moment, my ma had enough
She only waited til pa's passed out
She said I had to get out, I had to go
Or I'm dead if I stayed any longer
She had a sister out in the west
And told me it was for the best
By evening she had me board the train
That's the last time I ever saw her again."
"She didn't go with you? Why?" Gyn asked.
"I had a li'l brother, Theodore,
And him, my pa adored
Ma won't dare leave Teddy alone with him,
add to the fact that she was pregnant that time."
"So you reached your Aunt?"
"Yeah, Aunt Lily and Uncle Tim took me in,
Took care of me like one of their children
Two years later, Ma sent sent me a letter
About Pa getting hanged for murder."
She also told me to stay where I was
To make my own path was her advice
Two letters later, she said goodbye
And told me to move on with my life."
Ray sighed as he ended his story,
And looked to her to see what she thinks
"Me? I'd ask him about your ma."
Ray nodded, that's exactly what he do
He'd drop by the jail first thing tomorrow
Then they heard AJ call out to Gyn
The dinner crowd's starting to come in
Gyn left, Ray followed soon
Better get busy, than sulk in his room
YOU ARE READING
Busted Gulch vol 9
AventuraThe river has been open to trade, and the River boats are rolling in. Bring trouble in spades. Gamblers, Mistresses, bad guys galore and so much more, BG has in store. A collaborative western story written in poetry, that continues as the character...
