By Way of the Rose Read Free Page B

little tit baby!” Nathan stuck his tongue out at John.
    “No need for you to chime in, Nathan! I can tend to him.” Daniel turned back to John. “Do you understand what I'm saying to you?” John sniffled as he looked away from Daniel in contempt. “You look at me when I'm talking to you, boy! I believe it's been a while since you felt my strap on your backside, have you forgotten what it feels like? Do you need your memory refreshed?”
    John meekly looked at his father. “No, sir, I don't.”
    “Then a change of attitude had better be displayed fairly quickly.”
    “Yes, sir, I'm sorry.”
    “That's better. But I'm going to give you a lesson about the real world and how to be a man. I've let you slide too long. You are going to learn how to hunt and how to use a gun.”
    “Daniel, he's not ready! You can't force him!”
    “Marion, he's soft. You've coddled him far too long.”
    “He's just a boy.” Marion blurted out. “But a boy has to grow up.” She quickly corrected herself.
    “Now all you young'uns get off to bed.” Daniel ordered. “D.J. and I have to take care of the animal. Lord knows John isn't going to be of any help to us!”
    John, upon hearing these cutting words from Daniel, bolted off to bed. He lay there listening to Nathan eagerly volunteering to lend a hand.
    “Do I have to go to bed, Poppa? I'll help you!” Nathan begged.
    “No, you're not big enough. It's your bedtime. Run along now.”
    “But, Poppa... ”
    “Son, I said get to bed! I don't want to have to say it again! What's wrong with you boys tonight? Can't you hear?”
    “Yes, sir.” Nathan dropped his head in disappointment and slouched off to the boys’ room where John lay sniffling. “Why are you crying? You're stupid. If I was big like you I could hunt. It's not fair! I want to hunt and they won't let me!”
    “Shut up! You're too little to even know what's going on.”
    “I know what's goin’ on. You're a tit baby like D.J. says!”
    “Just because I don't want to murder living things?”
    “Because you want us to go hungry so you won't have to hunt and you don't want us to hunt either! You're stupid!” Nathan jabbed his elbow into John's ribs. “Move over and sniffle on your side of the bed, tit baby!”
    “Don't you touch me again!” John pushed at Nathan as he flounced over in bed. While he lay there he felt Nathan's finger on his shoulder,
    “Touch, touch,” Nathan whispered.
    John shrugged it off and went to sleep.

    * * * *
    John was silent as he held the fence post straight while his Poppa packed the dirt around it. “I'm sorry, Poppa about last night.” John finally spoke.
    “Son, I realize you're different, but you don't live in that world that's in your head. You're in this world and it's hard, I worry about you. I know you and your momma feel I'm too harsh and that I should respect the softness in you.” Daniel looked directly into John's eyes. “Your momma yearns to protect you from the harshness of life, she doesn't understand being a man, how important it is for you to learn the things I'm trying to teach you.” He shook his head. “She's going to have to let you face reality no matter how painful it may be for her. She must allow the soft gentle hands of you, her only scholar, to become rough and able to survive in this hard world.”
    “I just don't think I'm ever going to be what you want me to be.” John looked away.
    “Son, there's something going on in this wilderness that's causing strange and unusual animal behavior,” Daniel said. “That bear never should have been out this time of year roaming around. Especially not on our porch. We must get busy and put up extra provisions for this winter. Stack more wood. Gather more food. I'm concerned that the deer are getting scarce. I'm going to need your help, not your hindrance.”
    “Yes, Sir.” John felt no better after their conversation. He could never win his Poppa's approval by being himself. He dropped his head.
    Soon the