The Mockingbird's Ballad

Placing the handkerchief across his mouth, his thumb rested on his nose, he cried hard. "Damn, old Man, I'll miss you," he muttered into the wet cloth.

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Mama Bear's death three years before had left John L. lost. He moved through life but his love of it had died with his bent, withered Cherokee maiden. He occupied space but was hollow. Lou and Solon worried mightily at first, but as time passed, they accepted his loneliness as his to have. The twins could enliven him from time to time and he'd come back to life, but not stay.

When word got out of the ancient's death, the neighbors had brought enough food to feed five times the number of folk who called and there were lots of folks. Lou and Nancy busied themselves with sending callers home with ample amounts of the bounty evoked by death. There was plenty left, though, and Lou said, "Mama, the pigs need it. I know it's a waste, I guess, but my we can't store it and the flies already are aggravating enough." She paused with that decision made. "See if the boys are out of their good clothes, would you?" she asked of her mother.

"Yes, Sister," answered Nancy and she wiped her hands on her apron and went out into the hall in her search for Jim and Joe. She found them on the edge of the yard under the big pecan's shade with their father. Solon and Jim were in the wicker bench Lou had put out for them to take the evening breezes. Joe was up two branches of the tree. Jim sat beside his father, head down, hands in his lap. Nancy paused for a minute at the porch edge taking in the scene. "Boys, get in here and change your clothes, goodness!" she called across the yard. Joe with agility descended his perch and Jim leaned over to his father. Solon's right arm came down from the bench back and he held Jim for a moment.

"Go on James, Miss Nancy and your mother . . . "His swollen face, red eyes looked up at his father as if life had no hope. Solon slightly smiled, "James, it will be all right. Your Grand John L. is with Mama Bear and God. They'll always be with us too, here." He gently patted his chest then his son's.

"Yes, Daddy, I know," Jim answered but not as if it were true. Solon held him then in both arms.

"Come on Jim," Joe standing beside the bench said quietly and with encouragement. Jim pulled away from Solon and the two boys walked slowly up towards their grandmother.