Background
Two brothers face the cruelty of their father.
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So far, Huck and Dewey Strait are suffering under the abusive rule of their father. Huck knows all too well how bad things happen when you get in the way of their father.
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Some people are just born bad. My old Maw-Maw told me once, in confidence, that my daddy was born under a bad moon. I didn't know there was such a thing. I figured all moons was the same. Except when it was yellow or just a sliver. It used to bother me, her saying that. I would creep over to the window to peek out. Never could tell if I saw a bad one or not. The moon just looked like the moon.
But, back to my daddy. I'm thinking my Maw-Maw was right. He ain't never been anything but mean for as long as I can remember. He's ugly to Dewey, me, Momma, even the animals we got. Ain't nothing for him to kick one of our horses or cows, and all on account of him stepping in a pile of manure. It ain't their fault, piles that big are easy enough to spot, if you take the time to look where you're stepping.
I seen him go after my momma, a time or two. And, he's always saying the meanest things to her. Once he told her she couldn't cook a lick. Said everything she plated up was bad. He called it dust bowl food. All dried up just like her. Now, Dew and I eat whatever she puts in front of us. She cooks it, God blesses it and we eat it. Might not go back for seconds, but you best believe we are finishing the firsts.
I run back inside and grab my shoes, shoving my feet in them as quick as I can.
"Hurry up," Daddy bellows from outside.
I scramble up and run back out letting the screen door slam behind me. "Comin'".
He points to where the snake, Ben and the chicken lay. "Get those chickens back in the coop, and check for more snakes, they's usually more 'n one."
My eyes quickly flicker across the grass. The shovel is propped against the shed and I reach for it. I take it, step off the edge of the yard into the overgrown brush and pace about ten steps into the overgrowth. There I dig a hole about two feet deep. I walk back to where Ben and his lady are. Carefully, I scoop her body up and carry her back to her freshly dug grave. I place her gently into the opening. I look around making sure my daddy ain't watching and I bow my head. "You were a good chicken. You give us your eggs, never started no trouble and I bet you'd have been real delicious, too."
I scoop Ben up and place him right on top of his lady friend. I look at his rusty colored feathers that plumed on his tail. He was a handsome fella and I'm sure the other ladies are gonna miss him. I take a moment to say a few things about him as well. "God, take these two fine creatures and reward them for being good. She was a good chicken and Ben was a real good rooster. Amen." I smile to myself because to my own ears, my prayer sounded like something one of those traveling preachers would say.
The last one, makes my heart sink. It may sound petty, but I ain't gonna toss him in with Ben and the lady chicken. No sir, even in death he ain't gonna win. I shovel the dirt over the first two and tamp it down with my shoe. I dig another hole not quite as deep, then trudge back with the heavy snake looped over the shovel, toss him in and start to cover it with the dirt.
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Dewey is downstairs at the kitchen table when I come back inside.
"You get those chickens put up, like I told you?" Daddy asks as he noisily drags the chair out from under the table.
"Yes, sir," I answer quickly.
"Now, I got to spend money on another rooster," he grumbles.
The thought of Ben's senseless death needles me. "You needn't 'a kilt him."
He looks up sharply. "Didn't see you out there when that snake was tryin' to kill me. Ben got in the way. No, you were upstairs with that dummy sleeping or playing with yerself."
I feel my face flush. I hope my momma didn't hear what he said.
Dewey grins, but looks down when my daddy turns his attention on him. "What the hell are you grinning at, you imbecile?"
"God don't like that kind of talk, Matthew," Momma says softly but doesn't dare turn around.
"You and yer God, can kiss my ass. If there was a God, why'd he give us these two? No count, stupid," he mumbles, letting his words fall off.
I watch as Momma's shoulders start to shake. I know she's crying. She's a God fearing woman and I know she's breaking inside hearing him say things like that. But, being the good person she is, she'll get on her knees and pray for his wayward soul. I ain't. I think people like him, the kind who get pleasure out of hurting others deserve to burn in hell. Momma has taught me that forgiveness is the key to the pearly gates of heaven. She forgives my daddy every time he wrongs her. But, when is it okay to stop forgiving? When does God reach down and smite people like him? She says the meek shall inherit the earth.
I glance at Dewey. He's meek, so is my momma, but I don't see them inheriting anything. Maybe, inheriting the earth don't really mean what she thinks it does. Maybe, Ben and his lady chicken, inherited the earth and now they are becoming one with their inheritance.
