The Sight--Chapter 3 (standard:mystery, 2493 words) [3/4] show all parts
Author: SoLikeCandy	Added: Mar 20 2001	Views/Reads: 3074/2064	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Ruth tries to dig into the roots of her family tree, and the old man thinks of his past and his lost family. Keep those comments coming!

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Holidays for the Collins family were long and hectic.  Thanksgiving
started at least two days before for Mama Ruth, who cooked and baked 
and basted and stirred for hours before the holiday began.  Throngs of 
family gathered at the house to celebrate and catch up with each other. 
 Children made snowmen of the freshly fallen snow outside while the 
grownups watched football or played spades inside the house, yelling 
and laughing. 

The house was always loud, always warm, always active, during
Thanksgiving.  Ruth went into the sitting room to see her grandfather, 
who sat in a recliner watching the game. 

“Hi, Paw Paw,” she said, kissing him gently on the cheek.  “How ya
feeling?” 

Paw Paw opened his arms and embraced her from his chair.  “’Side from yo
gramama runnin me ragged, I’s fine,” he muttered.  “You know, I reckon 
that woman tryin to kill me.” 

She sat beside him on the arm of the chair.  “It’s good for you, Paw
Paw,” she said, laughing.  “It’s keeping you young.” 

Paw Paw patted her leg and they both stood.  “I s’pose I’ll go help her
in the kitchen,” he said as he waddled toward the door, his bowed 
little legs shaking a bit with each step. 

“You need any help?” she asked. “Naw, baby, I’s fine,” he said, smiling.
 “I’m old is all, but I can make it to the kitchen!”  She watched him 
walk out, his broad shoulders heaving. 

There were rumors in the family about its true patriarch.  It seemed
like everyone had a story about what really happened to Earl Collins, 
Sr.: some said he was shipped off in the service and married an island 
woman.  One nosey great aunt with a penchant for drama whispered that 
he was an outlaw who fled the threat of the gallows for killing a man.  
Others said he simply couldn’t handle a gaggle of kids and a young wife 
and left town.  Of course, no one was curious enough to seek him 
out—after Jack Lloyd befriended and fell in love with Ruth Collins, he 
became father to her 6 children and grandfather to the throngs of 
children in the family.  The two never married, but had lived together 
for more than forty years. 

“Honey, I tried that shit once before and it ain’t work,” Mama Ruth said
one day to the granddaughter who shared her name.  “Ain’t no use in 
makin the same mistake twice!” 

And so, it was Jack who offered his adopted children support and advice
and love.  It was Jack who went to Grandparents’ Day festivities at his 
grandkids’ schools, and Jack who slipped them dollar bills whenever the 
parents weren’t looking.  Jack Lloyd was the man that Ruth called Paw 
Paw. 

Still, Ruth wondered who this mystery man was.  Her father was
tightlipped on the subject, saying only that he was the man after who 
he was named, and that his name was the most the man had ever given 
him.  Mama Ruth sometimes dropped hints and little stories about the 
man, but never mentioned if she knew his current whereabouts.  
Throughout the years, Ruth had become increasingly curious about her 
biological grandfather and while she loved Paw Paw with all her heart 
and believed that no man would ever replace him, she wanted at least to 
know who Earl Collins was, to see what he looked like, to hear the 
sound of his voice. 

Ruth made her way to the front parlor room where the women in the family
sat drinking wine coolers, chatting and playing spades.  Cigarette 
smoke and curse words floated in the air. 

“You a lyin ass bitch if I ever seen one,” Auntie Ann was shouting to
her older sister Marie.  Marie was doubled over giggling like a child, 
and Ann was guffawing like a mule.  The two were lightheartedly arguing 


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