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<\/a><\/p>\nWhen my husband\u2019s Uncle Tommy was born he almost died, and so did his mother.\u00a0 As a result his grandparents cared for him while his mother regained her strength.\u00a0 It took Mama Atkins several years to get well, and by the time Tommy returned to his parents he was utterly spoiled and convinced that he was the center of the universe.\u00a0 All his life he was always having to be bailed out of trouble, frequently at a lot of trouble and expense for his siblings.\u00a0 This was true even into his adult and older years. and most especially when he was drinking.<\/p>\n
Uncle Jimmy was the middle child in the same family and he always felt he had it harder than anyone else and that he had somehow ended up having to rescue Tommy more than his fair share.\u00a0 \u201cBut that\u2019s all right,\u201d he\u2019d say, playing the martyr card, \u201cIf everybody feels that\u2019s right, then I\u2019ll not be the one to complain.\u201d<\/p>\n
One year Jimmy decided to raise turkeys at home to supplement his income at a chicken processing plant.\u00a0 I\u2019ve always heard turkeys are not easy to raise.\u00a0 They can\u2019t get too cold or too hot, and they have to be fed just right or the meat isn\u2019t good.\u00a0 Then, of course, you have to protect them from predators or none would get grown.\u00a0 They aren\u2019t the smartest birds in the world–or at least the domesticated ones aren\u2019t.\u00a0 Apparently, Uncle Jimmy had done everything right, and the day before Thanksgiving he had sold every turkey he raised except the one he\u2019d kept for himself and his family. Just as he was about to slaughter it, Tommy came driving up, and Jimmy could tell his oldest brother was three sheets in the wind.<\/p>\n
Jimmy put his hands on his hips and let out a big sigh. \u201cWhat do you want, Tommy?\u201d<\/p>\n
Tommy opened the car door and staggered out.\u00a0 \u201cWho says I want something? Do I have to want something to come and see my brother?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUsually,\u201d Jimmy said.<\/p>\n
Tommy laughed. \u201cYou got it right this one time, little brother.\u00a0 I come to get me one of them turkeys.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou waited too late,\u201d Jimmy said,\u00a0 \u201cthey\u2019re all sold except the one in the pen and it\u2019s mine.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll take it,\u201d Tommy said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell,\u201d Jimmy said, \u201cWhile you was wasting your time, drinking and having a good time all these months, I\u2019ve been taking care of them turkeys so me and Velma and Billy could have a little extra money.\u00a0 I\u2019ve done without to buy them birds food, Even brought \u2018em in during that cold snap we had in the spring.\u00a0\u00a0 And I saved this last one for my family to have a little something special for Thanksgiving.\u00a0 Now, if you\u2019d take the last bird I got, take it knowing that me and Velma and Billy won\u2019t have nothing but peas and cornbread tomorrow for dinner, then you just go ahead and take it.”<\/p>\n
\u201cWrap \u2018er up,\u201d said Uncle Tommy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
My latest book, HALLEY, awarded 2015 Jefferson Cup Honor for Historical Fiction, awarded the 2015 Moonbeam Silver Medal for Young Adult Fiction, and the 2016 Frank Yerby Award for Fiction. When my husband\u2019s Uncle Tommy was born he almost … Continue reading