Chapter One
My uncle, My brother
I remember seeing my grandfather. His eyes appeared so much lighter than my father's. He had swept me into a bear hug, and I had stood there afraid of being punished. He had turned a sharp look on my father, but said nothing. I called my grandfather, 'Papa' and his new wife 'Granny.' She was very pretty and Mother towered over her. Granny was younger than my mother, but the fact I only realize when looking back. It was an extraordinary day, for it was from my grandparents that I learned what love was, and how a man was suppose to treat his wife. Mother and Granny were vastly different, though I don't doubt that they both loved me. I will never doubt that. Mother had auburn hair that she usually wore in a bun, so that Joel wouldn't pull it, I thought. He was always putting his teeth in everything, and if not his teeth, then his hands. Granny had long chestnut hair that she wore in long waves down her back. She was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I reached out and touched her hair, aware of the silkiness of it, and also aware of the grim look on my mother's face.
During the next few weeks, under Papa's and Granny's insistence we were allowed at the family table. Normally, Mother would feed us and then she would eat with Father. I tried carefully to eat the food. But the food needed to be cut up, and no matter how hard I tried, The food kept slipping out of the plate, leading Father to snort, loudly. He then went into a long, explanation of why children shouldn't be permitted at the table. I didn't really understand. All I understood was again, I had failed. Granny smiled at Father, "Well, my child will be permitted to eat with us, right Garland?" she asked Papa. He nodded and smiled touchingly. I looked up at Granny. "Where's the baby?" I asked, and Granny smiled at me and explained quickly. "Your father's going to have a brother or a sister, as handsome as you are, as handsome as your grandfather. I just love children, and you're going to be loved just as much. You and Joel will have someone knew to play with, very soon. One day Papa and Granny will go to the hospital and bring back someone for you to play with," she said in her voice, a voice full of sunshine and happiness. I nodded, trying to concentrate on the words, and not the feeling of loss. Someone was going to replace me. Yet, I looked over at Joel, who was stirring his corn and peas together. I hadn't been replaced when Joel had been born.
Father spoke softly, smiling a smile that reached his eyes when he looked at Granny. "It may be a girl. It would be nice to have a girl in the house, for a change," he said looking meaningful at mother. Mother stared at him, "We can't control God, Malcolm," she said and then the conversation changed to Father's mother Corrine. I wanted to go play, and soon Granny and Mother took us to the nursery and Granny sat down and began playing with us. It was funny to see her down on out level, playing as if she was a child, as well. Father wouldn't approve, I thought.
During the next few months, Father spent more time with Joel and I in the nursery watching granny. Granny would smile and tell him of our accomplishments which Father would belittle, and she would smile as if she was humoring him. Didn't she know who our Father was? Finally, one day, Father took me, and only me down to where he worked. He looked at me, sternly, and said, "Mal, one day this will all be yours." I looked around at the huge building, at all the servants who Father said worked for him. They weren't called servants but employees. And they all worked for Father. What if I didn't want all those people working for him? I wondered, although I didn't dare say it. "Mallory, this is my son Malcolm Neal Foxworth, Jr., Mal, this is my assistant Mallory," he said to the pretty blonde woman. She knelt down and patted my head, "He's as handsome as his father," she said in a maple sugary sweet voice. I wanted to spit on her, I didn't dare. And my thoughts proved correct. "Lucky for young Malcolm that he doesn't take after his mother. Why did you ever marry that woman?" she asked, and I too listened. Father never gave reasons for anything, and this time was no exception. "I had my reasons, Mallory," he said. "And please refrain from mentioning my wife, around my son," he said before our visit was cut short. He began talking about work, and I thought of the pretty piano Granny had bought me.
In the next few weeks, Granny disappeared and Father tried to explain more of the business to me. But he yelled so much, when I didn't understand, that he frightened me. Granny came home with a baby boy that they named after my grandfather Garland Christopher Foxworth the fourth, he was a christened. Granny said we would all call him Chris. He was a pretty baby, I had to admit. He was prettier than I remembered Joel being. Mother liked to hang around him, too. And I felt that despite Granny's promises, I had been replaced by Christopher. He never cried like Joel. Father glared at the baby furiously, Mother said he was worried about Papa's will. "What does Papa will?" I asked Mother. Mother smiled and tousled my hair as she explained, "It's his living will," she said. "It says who inherits this house, the business, everything," she explained. I nodded, and knew that Father would get it. Hadn't he told me the business would one day be mine, whether I wanted it or not, I thought bitterly. Granny had been right though, this boy who was indeed his half-uncle was like another brother. Chris had proved to be much brighter than his brother.