Thomasville

Confrontation

Billie arrived home to angry parents. His mother had felt ill that day and, he had volunteered to stay home with her, only to leave and get a drink once his father and brother had left for church.

Do you know how this makes us look, Billie? Billie looked away from his father, who was inches from his face. Look at me when I am speaking to you. Jack and I were at church and, your mother was sick in bed while you went out and got yourself plastered. Your aunt Carolyn will not let your cousins come over to our home because of you. Do you care how that makes your mother feel? She is sick in bed, and she can not even see her nieces and sister.

How is it my fault Aunt Carolyn is a zealot; The woman is crazier than a rabid dog! That is when Billie was hit in the back by a vase his mother had thrown. The pottery hit the ground, shattering into a dozen pieces. Get out of my house! How dare you speak about your aunt that way? William Sr. automatically turned to comfort his wife. He turned to his son with a cold expression; You better go, Junior. Billie turned and ran; Unsure of where to go.

Jack had been sitting on the porch, anxiously listening in on the argument. He ran after his brother. Billie, go to the Brady house. Da told him he would send one of us down to help clean up his shack. Do you think he would let me help him? Billie asked skeptically. I do not know. When I saw him earlier, he looked like a ghost. Just be insistent. I think he has realized he needs help. He is just not ready to admit it.

Billie turned on the path and made his way towards the Brady homestead. Jack stood on the road for a while; Watching his brother disappear into the distance. He worried about his family. It was clear something had been wrong for a long time. The drought had brought out the worst in everyone. He decided to take a walk to calm his nerves.

Will could see Jack standing alone in the road and wished he had not treated his son so harshly. Jack gestured to his father that he was going to take a walk in the fields. His father nodded his head in recognition before turning back to his wife.

Nettie, Billie did not mean it. The child is only nineteen. He does not know any better. Yes, he does, Will. We raised him to know better. How did we end up with one boy like Jack and another like him? She wondered aloud. I will be the first to admit Carolyn can be exhausting, but to compare her to a rabid dog. I can not and will not accept I have raised a man who would talk about a member of his own family that way. We need to get him under control. I miss the girls; I want to help with the baby.

Nettie, I know you love Carolyn. Sometimes I feel like she has more of a say about what happens in our household than we do, and it has gone too far. You are fifteen years older than her, Nettie; You need to put your foot down.

Carolyn is very principled William; She always has been, and she always will be. Arguing with her is like arguing with a brick wall. You are an only child; I do not expect you to understand the relationship between sisters. I want to do what is right for our family. I have been taking care of Carolyn since the day she was born. Not being able to see her is like not being able to see the sun or losing my right-hand.

Nettie, I think you need to be honest with me, the boys, and Carolyn. Fright shot across her face, but she concealed it as quickly as it had appeared. Honest about what, William? Her husband gave her a knowing look and then stared down at the floor. I may not have siblings, but it is clear to see you do not have any either. Nettie could feel her insides turned to gelatin and, she felt as though she might faint. How did you find out? She asked.

I always knew. Your father told me on our wedding night. He was trying to convince me not to marry you. I had already guessed that it was the case, and I loved you anyway. I may not be an educated man, but I do know the chances of a woman getting pregnant at forty-six are slim to nothing. Annette, you have never treated Carolyn like your sister, whether you have realized it or not.