Blood

I often wonder about the life my father had as a child. I was thinking about him tonite, so I will share this story even though it is not very uplifting.

My dad grew up in Sidney Illinois, which is about 15 miles from Champaign-Urbana. Its a small town, when I was young there were 500 residents, now its closer to 2000 being close to a college town. He had 3 brothers, he was second youngest. Now, my grandparents had always lived in this area, and they were married when my grandma was 14. Grandpa was like 19 I think so ya, that's good huh. From what I gather, my grandpa was a huge asshole, beat up grandma all the time, and his kids. Its no wonder how they rebelled against him.

When my dad was 16, his older brother was getting into all sorts of trouble. He ended up with the option of go to jail, or join the marines and go to Nam. So he went to Nam, and died soon after. The next oldest son also had the same option, but he went to the Philippines instead. The point though is that my dad told me a story once about Jakie, the oldest, that stuck with me. Right before he went to war, he came home to see my grandma, and she was in the middle of getting it from the old man. Dad says that Jakie took my grandfather and beat him senseless then told him if he ever hit her again, he would kill him. Apparently this subdued the old man and he never did hit her again, or any of the others. My dad says that this is from Jakie dying, and grandpa being proud of his sacrifice. Probably so..

Last year as I was strolling around the farm walking through the knee high corn, I wondered about the land. I asked my dad some things and he said that the land behind the farm house was never to be sold. That Jakie's blood was in the ground and it was something that family should hold onto. I asked what he meant, but he never said. Still wondering about that one..

My grandfather was also a Knight of Pithius.. and when he died, we went through the storage of things from the group. Besides the usual capes and swords, we found a real human skeleton. I remember touching it and thinking, what the fuck! I will never know the story behind that though.

My dad has this strange ability to sense and apparently talk to dead people too. He has said things and seen things that are so strange you have to believe him. Conversations in private between two other people that he knew about somehow. To the minute when someone died, even when he wasn't told until the next day.

My dads house burned down 2 years ago, it was strange because he had just had a fight with his other brother nights before in which he was told he was going to be killed if he didn't stop fucking around. Ended up being and accident, but I still have my doubts.

Bloody cornfields and fires in the night... I wish my dad would tell me more sometimes, maybe I will ask him more when I see him next. Crazy small town. Its no wonder my older brother has not been back for 15 years. My dad loves the land though and can make anything grow. I will surely enjoy his asparagus field for years to come.