Entry #551329, added on 11-26-07 @ 10:40 pm EST
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| The Bay Road Legacy Chapter 11I Want My Mother | Entry #551329 |
The BAY ROAD LEGACY
Chapter Eleven
I Want My Mother
Great uncle Jim was the man that Uncle Jimmie was named after. He was now nearing his late 70s in age, and was a little hard of hearing, and no longer drove. Aunt Lil was a year or two younger, and was always Jim’s biggest fan and supporter. Great Uncle Jim and his brothers, including my father’s father had come into the United States from England by way of Nova Scotia in the year 1900, and were the first of their family to have done so. They worked their way into the United States by being cleared through the immigration process. They reached the U. S when they were all full grown and in there late teens, and early twenties. Each of the men had to declare their occupation at the time of entry, and so it was that Jim declared himself to be a butcher. He was also listed as having in cash one U.S. dollar, and a Canadian coin. On entry into the U.S. Jim found work in a meat slaughter house. His task was to break the neck of the wild beasts, by twisting their heads. Jim was a very large man, all of six foot four, and had the muscles of a bull. This job lasted for several years and eventually the slaughter house closed.
His next job was with the Ringling Brothers Circus, first as a cook and butcher and then on discovery of his immense strength, he became the circus strong man able to toss full bear kegs over his shoulder with his teeth. Other feats included lifting a Ford automobile up in the front with one hand, and while standing high up on a platform; he lifted several young ladies in a swing to a position just beneath his feet. He and Lil traveled several years with the circus, and eventually Jim ended up working at a shoe factory in a western suburb of Boston.
He was retired now and still, each and every day of his life, he arose at 5:00 AM, had a breakfast of oatmeal, and dressed in a clean shirt with a tie, which was a mark of distinction to him as a retired gentleman. We looked forward to meeting the older Uncle Jim, and were just full of questions about circus life and all of his other feats of strength. Mother remembered Aunt Lil as having a reputation as one of the best cooks in the family, and hoped that Lil might share some recipes with her and give her some lessons on cooking for a family. That was one area that mother had little experience with.
Well on Tuesday as promised, the older couple arrived in Glens Falls by bus and called Father to pick them up at the bus station. He had kept the car for the day, and took time from work to meet them and bring them out to the house. Jim was no longer the huge muscle man of legend, but actually appeared quite thin and frail. Lil was very much the picture of a sweet elderly lady who might have been a school teacher or at the very least a Sunday School leader. They were amazed at the sight of their nephew Ben’s family, all together, and full grown and living in one house in upstate New York. It was apparent that they never expected a reunion between him and his family.
They had known him since his childhood, giving them a great deal of insight into the human nature of Father. The couple reveled in the meeting of young Greg, their very first great, great nephew. Father had returned to work, and we had the pleasure of showing off our new home and all that went with it. Jim loved the farm. Most especially he liked an old Adirondack chair that had been standing empty on the rear porch of the house. He pulled the old chair out to the lawn just outside the kitchen. It just seemed to have been made for him. He would sit in that chair staring off into distant fields at the huge animals grazing there, for hours at a time in the coming days. Dusty stayed by his side for the entire week, as though he and Jim had been together for a lifetime. Lil and mother hit it off real good, and not only did Lil give mother the much needed cooking lessons, but she actually cooked several meals for us during her stay at the farm. It had been many years since she cooked for more than two people.
On Tuesday and Wednesday evening, as was now our custom, we would sit on the old porch, and listen to stories told by our now growing family. Stories of circus life took center stage for several hours, and eventually as our questions diminished, Jim had a few of his own. He asked Father where he had been, “all these years”. That was a tough question for Father. He knew he must show respect to the older folks and answer as best he could. The question could never have come from one of us, and I don’t think that any of us really expected the question to ever be answered. Mother wasn’t quite sure if we should stay on the porch with the old folks, or if we should perhaps take a walk while she and Father and Jim and Lil had a talk. Jim asked that we stay.
The answer was given, and was more mysterious than any of us could have imagined. Without ever saying why, Father told of traveling to Cuba, and working in a gambling casino, and then moving to New Orleans for a short time working as a furniture salesman. He said that then he went on and learned the printing trade at a small town in the Midwest. He followed that up by a move to California, where he stayed briefly with another of his brothers, who was in the Navy at the time. He moved again to Chicago and attended night school to learn business management, and eventually he returned to the Boston area, about two years before making contact with his wife and family. These were amazing revelations that none of us ever expected to hear, most certainly not at a time and place like this. The questions and the answers given raised more questions than any of us dared to ask. It would be years before we would ever ask or learn the answers to the un-asked questions. After giving answers to Jim’s questions, and still feeling a little exposed before his new family, Father went into the house and returned with a bottle of old scotch whiskey that he knew was or had been Jim’s favorite treat.
“Jim” he said “I bought this bottle just for you, knowing there would be a time to offer a toast for all that you and Lil have done for me, so let me pour you a bit and you just tell me when to stop.” Father poured with hesitation at first expecting Jim to say stop. Jim did not, and as the beverage neared the very top of the glass, aunt Lil said stop. Jim scowled at Lil, took the near full glass, lifted it high and said “I drink to Ben and Dot and to their family, may the years be good, God be forgiving and may they live always in peace”. Father returned the toast by offering one to Jim and Lil, “may they live full and rich lives”. Jim went on to say that he felt that this place, this beautiful quiet and peaceful home was one of the nicest places he had been to in many years. It was Wednesday night, and it ended in a very happy home.
Thursday morning came to Bay Road with its usual sunlit splendor. In the fields to the south, we saw several pheasants, being flushed out of their roosting area by a beautiful red fox. She jumped at them and chased them for a long time, but was not successful in catching even one of the elusive birds. Jim had settled into his favorite chair, and just before ten o clock Mr. Roberts arrived at the farm in his pickup truck. He walked over to where uncle Jim was seated mindfully greeted Dusty who was with him and introduced himself to Jim. The two talked for quite a while and soon Jim got up and announced that the young man was going to take him for a ride to show him the rest of the co-op farm. Jim was anxious to go, and Dusty was going with them. Lil gave Jim a small kiss and sent him on his way, and reminded the young Mr. Roberts that Jim should be back for lunch. “Come with him if you like” she said, “I will make sure we have plenty”.
Several hours later the two men returned and I noticed that as Jim got out of the truck, he appeared to walk a little more spryly than he had before. His whole appearance was that of a man perhaps ten years younger. Dusty bounced out of the truck and tugged at Jim’s hand, and Mr. Roberts joined the both of them as they entered the kitchen. The smells of fresh baked rolls, and real fried chicken permeated the air. Anyone who came near to the house on that day would be instantly hungry, just from breathing the aromas wafting on the breeze. This was the kind of light lunch that Lil had made many times over for the circus folks, and it was her time of reminiscing in her own way. Mr. Roberts commented that he never remembered such a meal at noon except once many years earlier when the Fowlers owned the property.
Lil asked “what ever happened to those folks?” Mr. Roberts told Lil that Mrs. Fowler had become somewhat of a recluse and lived in the small house across the way from us. We had met her on one occasion I said. Then she asked “what of Mr. Fowler, what happened to him?” Great Uncle Jim was the first to respond to that question. Oh, he said he’s still around, why I talked with him only this morning out by the dairy barn! Mr. Roberts nearly spilled his coffee at that answer. “Jim, Mr. Fowler died 15 years ago, I doubt that it was him you spoke with, must have been one of the other boys working for me. Jim was quite sure that it had been Mr. Fowler, but he accepted Mr. Roberts’s word for it and the subject was dropped.
Lunch ended and Mr. Roberts was on his way. Jim settled into his chair talking with Dusty and watching over Greg. Mother went out after clearing away the dishes from lunch and took Jim a glass of lemonade. She asked Jim what the man he had met and talked with looked like, the man he thought was Mr. Fowler. Jim told mother that the man was dressed in bib overalls and had been crossing the yard toward the dairy barn. He was carrying a large rope over his shoulder, and stopped to talk with Jim for at least 5 minutes, before going into the barn. “Well did you see him again when he came out” asked mother. Jim said he did not see the man come out, no; he thought the man must have gone out some other way.
Having had such a large lunch, mother planned a much lighter dinner for that day. She thought that since it was now Thursday, it might be nice to take Jim and Lil for an ice cream later in the evening. She also hoped silently that the weather would stay good and there would be no thunderstorms that night. She had no idea as to what else may be in-store for this Thursday evening.
As planned, dinner was ready as soon as Joan and Father returned from work. We sat around for an hour or more before leaving the house that day. For the family photo album, pictures were taken of Jim and Lil, with Dusty, and with Greg and with all of the family together. Jim looked very alert, very much the picture of an elderly gentleman, at ease with the world. He was enjoying his visit with his now reclaimed extended family. He was clearly a man from whom a burden had been lifted. After taking the pictures we went to the ice cream shop as planned, and as we arrived mother noticed the beautiful sunset just to the west. Not a cloud in the sky, and she was hopeful that on this night it stayed that way. Our favorite waitress greeted us like old friends and met more of the family. Wow she said, I wish I had as big a family as you guys do. I just have one uncle and no brothers or sisters. I only see my uncle once or twice a week because he works odd hours, and look at you guys; you got uncles and aunts all over the place. Sometime you will have to meet my uncle she said, everybody does, he is the Sheriff for this county. “Is this the Uncle Jim that was in the circus, the one that Jimmie talked about?” Oh, Oh I sure hope so I never met anyone that was in a circus before! Doreen was a talker and after taking our orders and bringing our treats she returned to actually sit at the end of the table with us. She was fast becoming like a part of our new family. It was a fact that she had met as many of my relatives and family friends as I had. “Could I ask you guys for a favor, could I come out and see your house for myself? I have heard a lot about that place ever since I was young, but I have never been out there. None of my friends would ever go there and I would really like to see it.” Mother of course told her that she could come by at any time. She said that she might be able to come out on Saturday, and she said if it is okay I will get my uncle to bring me so you can meet him. He knows all about your old place. He knows everything!
We finished our ice cream and just about nine o clock we were ready to go back out to the farm. Again mother pointed out how beautiful this evening was, why there was a full moon just starting its climb in the sky to the east. This will be a beautiful evening, no doubt about it, she thought.
We returned to the house, and were all quite pleased that the evening had been so enjoyable. We would not have to run from the car into a darkened house in the rain as we had done so many times before. There were lights on in several rooms and the house looked inviting, almost like a picture of rural elegance, much as it might have looked one hundred years before. There was no hint of unusual activity, no strange noises, and no thunderous roars. If anything, the house seemed strange simply because of its home like atmosphere. It was, to say the least both a welcome relief from the Thursday nights past, and also, somewhat of a disappointment that our unworldly performers were obviously taking a night off. I guess that Uncle Jim, and Lil would not get to see the best darn show in town after all. Why this was so, would perhaps never be answered, or would it? Now that I think back to that day, Uncle Jim never did say what he and the old man he had met with earlier had talked about.
Friday morning found Jim and Lil up early, and Jim was as usual dressed with a shirt and tie on and he had decided that it would be fun if he could help out at the farm stand with us. Lil wanted to go out with mother to the sight of the old cross that she had been told about. Mother was a little concerned that Lil would want to walk all that way, and so she called Helen to ask her if she could come over and pick them up as it was Fathers turn to keep the car and he had already gone to work. Helen agreed and a few minutes later she arrived and the three ladies with Greg in tow were off for the morning.
This day, this single Friday in mid summer would be most memorable in many ways. Jim was like a young man, hustling around tidying up the area around the stand, lettering the sandwich board signs, even raking out the stopping area in front of the stand. He greeted customers, bagged corn, picked berries when we ran low, threw a stick for Dusty to fetch. Jim was young again and full of life. We were totally enthralled by his tales of his earlier days, and were always aware that this man was the oldest living member of Fathers family. He was my Grandfathers brother and even told us some of the facts of him. It was obvious that my Grandfather was a very hard man, with an absolute controlling personality. He ruled with an iron fist and was a strong disciplinarian, not one to “spare the rod”.
Jim told us that after Father reached his teens, he had run away from home on several occasions, and finally his own father would not take him back. That is when Father went to live with Jim. My Grandfather, according to Jim died as a lonely and bitter man. “He was smart and could well have made a much better life for himself and his family if only he had tried,” was Jim’s final observation regarding his own brother. Jim walked off for a bit on his own, and I think it was to reflect on his life and to reminisce on his own family, now mostly gone. When he returned, he was anxious to tell us that if we saw Mr. Roberts again, to let him know that he had seen the old man, Mr. Fowler, out by the dairy barn again. Jim was sure Mr. Roberts was confused as to whom he was referring. Jim said he had again seen the man and again talked with him and in fact the old man would probably come by again, as he said he expected to see him again soon.
Mother and Helen and Lil returned from the outing to the old revival church site, and this time it was Lil who was excited. “Look boys” she called out as she came down to the stand. “Look what I found over at Helens cross,” it’s another coin that was just lying on the ground”. This coin was very different, as it was not an American coin, it was from Canada. It was not gold, and it was only a one penny coin, but on close examination, it was engraved as coming from Nova Scotia, just like Uncle Jim. The coin was dated from 1856, just about 100 years earlier. “ Jim” she said, “this penny coming from the old church site, why it’s like a penny from heaven.” Lil handed the coin to Jim, as a gift, knowing that such a coin had been one of Jim’s prized possessions many years before. Jim explained to us that as he and his brothers on leaving their own father in England, to set out for Nova Scotia and the United States, were each given such a penny to hold onto for luck during their trip. He would not have it said that he turned his sons out without a penny to their name. The penny given to Jim had been carried in his pocket as a good luck piece for many years, but as he recalled it, the penny became lost just after Father had left his home. Now Jim had a new penny, a penny from heaven to hold onto for his next trip. I wondered if his own father was in some way still reaching out for his son. Friday night, much to the surprise of all of us, passed by silently, quietly and without ghostly interruption.
Saturday was a beautiful summer day, and mother and Lil packed a picnic lunch. We drove up to the lake and ate our lunch at the waters edge. We walked the paths along the edge of the lake, and stopped often to talk with fishermen who were quietly hoping for the “big one” to bite. Jim appeared to be growing younger with each passing hour of his stay at the farm. He was in his glory, a distinguished older gentleman now retired and spending time with his family. It was all that he had ever hoped for as old age had beset him.
Like all days this one had to end too. We returned home to the farm just before dark on that Saturday evening. We all settled down to talk and visit out on the porch, and it was mother who felt that she should at least let Jim and Lil know a little bit about our unusual occurrences, in case the second act of our ghostly visitors was to take place one night later than the Friday performance. Thursday night, were usually good, by ghostly performance standards, but Fridays were really unsurpassed and had occurred every night since we moved in. Mother on a hint from Alice was now rating the ghostly performances, and could speak lightly and with authority on their behavior.
Without giving details of what had happened or might happen again at any moment, she outlined the events of past weeks. Jim said he had heard all of this before. He had heard the stories from his new friend, the older Mr. Fowler that he spoke with now several times. “Dot, you and the family do not have to worry about anything bothering me tonight. I am sure that this is just one of the best places I could ever want to be, and I am sure it will be a very quiet night. Just don’t you worry about a thing.”
Now this may sound strange, but I do believe that this evening, with no thunder, no screams, no muffled voices, and no gun shots was as perfect a summer evening as anyone could ever imagine. God was in his heaven and all was right with the world. Jim and Lil would be leaving the next day for their bus ride home.
Sunday morning with just a little breeze blowing, and our latest relatives were about to leave. We were all still gathered in the kitchen, when mother asked Father if he had planned any more company for the coming week. Why Yes, of course he had! Ben she said I think that with all the company we have had that it is about time you bent the rules a little. You have avoided inviting my friends and family, and I am going on record right now with Jim and Lil still here. Ben, “I Want My Mother.” Yes it was mother who made an impassioned plea that her mother be put on the guest list for the coming weeks. Father agreed that he would work out a way to get her up to New York and he would see to it that she would come. We said our goodbyes to Jim and Lil, and Father took them into Glens Falls to board a bus back to their home.
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© Copyright 2007 Peter Yule (UN: peteryule at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
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