Author's note – I hope you enjoy this new series of short stories about the Tracy family. At the beginning of each chapter you will read the definition of two words:– A Fence - and then – a family. The story that follows I hope will meet that definition. Thanks to my two international friends lady Viva and Yvette who have helped me with definitions of these two words from their own countries (the USA and England). "Write from your heart and there you will see your soul" …. Cheers mcj
FENCES AND FAMILIES
" A selection of short stories by mcj based on the concepts of image writing"
Standard disclaimer: – Thank you to Gerry Andersen for allowing me to use and develop your wonderful characters. They are yours and only yours and writing about them gives me the greatest pleasure. Throughout this series the characters of Walter Brown, John Bradley Evans, Adelaide Reynolds, Katelyn Ross and Jezzica Parker will appear. These characters are my own and I don't profess for them to be of any consequence let alone part of the original series.
PROLOGUE – STORY ONE
Picture a Fence – "A Barrier to Prevent Access"
Then
Picture a family – "A set of parents and their children
Walter Brown looked at the clock on the antique sideboard in the elaborate dining room of his Kansas home and frowned. Ten thirty on a Sunday evening. Who the heck in' their right mind came knocking on a sleeping household's door at this hour of the night?
Walter quickly did a mental check.
No.
Everyone was home as they should be so it wasn't going to be the Police Department. At least that was a relief.
They had all gone to bed an hour ago feeling tired and lethargic after five nights of very little sleep. The current heat wave was really taking it out of everyone at the moment and there wasn't one person in the whole of Kansas who didn't glance longingly at the sky and pray for the rain that was constantly being promised on the weather forecast.
The rain would be more than welcome for everyone but more so for the struggling wheat farmers. The state was dry at the moment and the crops were bad again.
Walter rolled his eyes as he walked down the stairs tightening the belt on his night-robe. Which one of his daughters would the person at the door be here to see this time? Whoever he was, and Walter knew without a shred of doubt it would be a "he", he was about to be told to go home and asked to call at a more appropriate time in the future.
Stepping into the expansive tiled foyer, Walter wished for one fleeting moment that his three daughters had remained little girls, little girls who pink dresses, rode their bicycles around the neighbourhood, played with their dolls and looked angelic in the church on Sundays.
Now they had grown into three extremely attractive young women and seemed to have done so almost overnight and before he had any say in the matter. These days they never wore the same thing twice, listened to music ten times louder than was good for their ear drums, talked incessantly on the telephone and dated young men by the dozens. The three of them were too attractive for their own good, Walter Brown worried. He swore if he had to chase one more young man from his front door this month, he was going to buy himself a shotgun and turn homicidal.
His wife Alice laughed.
"You just mind yourself Walter Brown." she said in her no-nonsense southern voice. "I'm sure the townsfolk don't want to read about their Bank Manager going crazy with a gun. What's happening around here is normal and the price you pay for having three such pretty young daughters."
He shook his head. This was the price he was paying all right if answering knocks on the door at ten thirty in the evening were anything to go by. He had finally been able to get to sleep tonight after tossing and turning in his bed for nearly a week from the heat and he didn't appreciate being woken. One of his daughters was going to be spoken to in the morning and told in no uncertain terms that it was not appropriate to invite company to the house after nine o'clock in the evening, let alone young men.
More than likely it would be Arabella, he sighed to himself. At eighteen years of age his youngest daughter seemed to think she would die if she missed out on something. That one dated every single young man who even looked sideways at her. She had a face that turned heads wherever she went and a funny, interesting personality. It was a pity most of the young men she attracted didn't have the same attributes, he mused with a sigh.
He knew he wouldn't be talking to his middle daughter Virginia. She was completely the opposite of Arabella. For a young woman of twenty she was far too wise for her years. He guessed it came from working in the District Attorney's Office. Virginia was very selective and only dated young and upcoming legal professionals. She had carefully planned to marry a man with means and money and to her that was the end of the matter. Walter knew Virginia and had no doubt in his mind whatsoever she would do it too. She was the ambitious one and she always got her way.
His mind dwelled briefly on Josephine, his eldest. Twenty one years old, completely outspoken, feisty and determined, he never ceased to worry about that girl. He always swallowed nervously whenever they had company let alone left the house in the company of a young man. No-one knew what Josephine would say or do next and Walter always felt sorry for those young men who didn't meet Josephine's expectations. They certainly got to know about their short fallings before they left her at the door that was for sure. She was far too like her Mother that one, Walter thought in a kind of mock despair. Give him the youngest two any day.
The knock on the door became more urgent and Walter knew whoever it was didn't intend to go away. Obviously this young man had no sense of time, no common sense and definitely no manners.
"I'm coming. I'm coming" he muttered in an annoyed voice as he made his way to the door.
"This had better not be another of Arabella's boyfriends", he thought as his hand rested on the doorknob. "…or I swear..."
He turned on the light on the porch, unlatched the chain and slowly opened the door. Standing before him on the porch stood a tall handsome young man dressed immaculately in his best clothes and wearing a tie.
"Good evening Mr. Brown Sir." He said nervously. "It's not too late for me to calling by is it Sir?"
Despite the fact this was one of the young men he liked, Walter Brown decided to say his piece.
"It's ten thirty on a Sunday evening Grant and all of us, including my daughter are in bed." He said abruptly. "What do you think son?"
The young man reddened and lowered his head.
"I'm sorry Mr. Brown but I didn't finish down in the back field tonight until almost half eight. It's been too hot to work during the daylight hours and my Daddy needed me to dig in the crop before I finished up for the evening. Guess I didn't realise the time, what with me washing up to come over and all."
Walter looked out at the old pick-up truck parked in the drive. He was a nice boy this one. Well mannered. Polite. Not like some of the others she used to date.
"Well Grant, Josephine's asleep upstairs I'm afraid. I'd rather not wake her if you don't mind. She has an early shift in the morning at the market and the heat's been knocking her around a bit."
He watched as the young man nodded his head and shuffled his feet.
"Grant. You and I both know what Josephine like if she doesn't get her rest." Walter added.
"Mr Brown Sir, I wasn't wanting you to wake her. I'm kind of relieved she's asleep if you're wantin' the honest truth. "
"Oh?" Walter enquired. "Why's that then son?"
Grant bite both lips together and stammered.
"W…Well Sir. I kinda wanted to talk to you."
After a short pause he continued politely. "That is of course if you didn't mind taking the time to speak to me."
Walter looked interested. Josephine had been seeing quite a bit of this young man lately. He'd been one of many who had called on her in the past few years but Walter had to admit over the past six months he couldn't recall Josephine leaving the house with anybody else.
"All right Grant." he said motioning him inside. "Come in, won't you son? We can talk over a brandy in my study."
The young man shook his head.
"No thank you kindly Mr Brown. I gotta drive my Daddy's truck back to the farm and he doesn't approve of me drinkin' when I'm out."
Walter Brown nodded with understanding. Sensible fellow too this young Grant Tracy, but then so was his Father. He'd known the Tracy family for a long time. They were regular visitors to the bank. Unfortunately it was always for the wrong reason; the borrow money to keep their ailing wheat farm afloat.
"Well then come in anyway Grant and make yourself at home."
Grant Tracy looked nervous as he glanced towards the staircase.
"Beggin' your pardon Mr. Brown." he said. "I'm not meaning to be difficult or anything Sir but if you didn't mind I'd prefer it if I spoke to you out of Josie's … I mean … Miss Josephine's hearing."
Walter's eyes followed Grant's. The boy seemed uneasy about things. He shrugged.
"Very well son. We can sit out on the porch if you like."
He looked longingly at his brandy bottle before he walked outside. Still, he was sure whatever it was Grant Tracy had to say to him, it wouldn't take him very long. Grant was a quiet, unassuming young man who said very little. That fact didn't surprise Walter Brown. No-one venturing within six feet of Josephine ever got a word in edgewise anyway.
"Would you mind too much if we went right out to the fence Sir?"
"The fence?" Walter frowned. "Why the fence?"
Grant fixed his dark blue eyes on Walter Brown and said matter-of-factly.
"I'll know for sure she can't hear us there Sir."
Walter nodded. He was beginning to become intrigued with what t
Is young Tracy fellow had to say to him and why he wouldn't want Josephine to hear it. Still, he didn't blame him for being careful. If by some co-incidence Josephine did hear and didn't like what was being said, she'd be downstairs saying her piece in less than ten seconds flat.
"Well all right son. After you."
The two of them walked down the darkened pathway towards the brand sandstone fence which towered in front of the Brown residence. The air was still as Walter Brown walked in silence beside the tall Tracy son.
"Your new fence is very nice Mr. Brown." Grant observed. "It didn't take long to get it up once they started on it."
"No." Walter replied in surprise. The last thing he expected Grant Tracy to mention was the new sandstone fence.
"Sandstone blocks are mighty expensive I'm told." Grant continued.
"Well you're right. They certainly didn't come cheap." he replied. "But then what does these days?"
He watched as Grant nodded.
"Yes Sir, I know what you mean. Things are pretty tough 'round these parts right now."
"So you and your Father lost another crop huh?"
The young man sighed and looked up at the sky.
"Afraid so Mr. Brown. That's three in a row now. My Father says we're gonna have to come and see you at the Bank again before long."
Grant paused, realising this was definitely not the place to talk about the dire financial situation he and his Father were in with the farm.
"Still no sense complainin' about things Sir." He said quickly. "They say it's gonna rain soon."
"I hope it does son. We certainly need it." Walter replied as they arrived at the fence. He watched as Grant reached out his hand and silently ran it over the sandstone. He saw him swallow hard.
"All right Grant." he said. "What's on your mind?"
Grant Tracy cleared his throat and fidgeted with his tie.
"Well Mr. Brown Sir." he began nervously. "Me and Miss Josephine… well …we've been kind of keeping close company for a fair while now."
Walter acknowledged his statement with a knowing nod of his head.
"Yes Grant. Josephine's Mother and I have noticed. I guess I should give you a medal for bravery for putting up with her for this long." he smiled.
Grant Tracy didn't seem to see the joke and didn't comment. Walter was surprised as the boy usually had a good sense of humour.
"What I meant to say is our Josie is certainly a handful." he explained. "And I admire you."
"If you say so Mr. Brown." he shrugged.
Grant began to pace up and down in front of the fence. He finally stood still and looked at Walter Brown earnestly
"Mr. Brown, Sir, if you don't mind me being direct, I kinda don't look at Josephine like that."
"Oh?" Walter asked. "How do you look at her then?"
Without flinching Grant Tracy admitted.
"I'm in love with her Sir."
"Josephine?" Walter spluttered; the word escaping before he could contain it.
"Yes Sir. "he emphasised. "Josephine."
At Walter Brown's stunned silence Grant began to stammer.
"I… I… haven't touched her or nothin' if that's what you're thinkin' Mr. Brown. Honest."
Walter Brown had no doubts there. Josephine would amputate both of his hands before she'd let anything like that happen without her consent.
"Grant … son … what is it you're trying to tell me?"
Grant took a deep breath almost as if it was to be his last. As he exhaled it all came tumbling out of him.
"Well Sir … I was planning on asking Miss Josephine to marry me next time I see her and I'm here tonight to ask you if you have any objections."
Walter Brown fell into a real shocked silence now.
The young man in front of him was a Farmer living in an old broken down farmhouse on the outskirts of town. He was struggling to make ends meet. He'd just said he and his Father would be visiting the bank again, no doubt needing to borrow more money to keep their wheat farm afloat. Despite the fact he was immaculately groomed and dressed in his best clothes, they had been his best clothes for several years now. Josephine was used to a spacious comfortable home and a life of affluence. Walter Brown knew he wasn't a rich man either but he was much better off than the rest of the town. He also knew Josephine. There was no way she would cope with living on a farm no how much in love she thought she was.
He tried to forget about the importance he was placing on money and recollected all the observations he had made about this young Tracy son since he had first been introduced to him by Josephine. The young man was hard working, unnaturally polite, impeccably mannered, gentle, kind and sincere.
He thought about his eldest daughter Josephine. There was no need to make observations about her. He'd raised her and knew what she could be like. She was headstrong, quick-tempered and direct. Walter knew without thinking that the two of them wouldn't be a good combination if the crop failed year after year after year.
"Grant." he began. "How old are you son?"
"I'll be twenty five in the fall son."
"You understand Josephine's only twenty one don't you?"
"Yes Sir. I know that."
"You also know she is accustomed to a certain lifestyle." he continued carefully.
He saw Grant's face fall.
"I can provide for her Sir. I work hard and make an honest living. Morning till dusk every single day of the year."
"I know you work hard Grant, but there's more to having Josephine as your wife than just providing for her."
"Sir, I'll treat her right if that's what you mean. I'm a decent man. Honest.
Walter sighed. He wished he'd seen this coming so he could have discussed the subject with Josephine. He didn't realise her relationship with this young farmer had developed into something this serious. She certainly hadn't said anything. Then the realisation struck him. He wondered if Josephine knew about this herself.
"Grant." he said cautiously. "Tell me something. Does Josephine know how strongly you feel about her?"
Grant Tracy became silent himself and thought carefully before he replied.
"I'm a man of few words Mr. Brown. I find it difficult to express myself most of the time."
"Are you telling me then that Josephine doesn't know how you feel about her Grant?"
Grant lifted his head in denial
"No Sir. Beggin' your pardon but she does know. "he replied. "I can always find my tongue when it comes to telling Josephine how I feel about her."
His eyes reflected his emotions.
"There's nothin' I wouldn't give to have Josephine Mr. Brown. I'd even lay down my life."
Walter's stomach churned. He had to tell the boy he objected. What was the point in lying at a time like this?
"Grant." he sighed. "You're a fine boy and Lord knows I don't want you to take this the wrong way son, but Josephine hasn't mentioned things between you are that serious."
He saw Grant's tanned face crumble in disappointment and it took a few minutes to reply. When he did he spoke to himself, not Walter Brown.
"Guess she doesn't take me seriously because I'm only a wheat Farmer."
Walter watched as the young man extended his hand again to touch the towering sandstone fence.
"These sandstone bricks woulda cost more money than my Daddy and me have earned in the past two years Mr. Brown. I guess money's the difference if you want to be taken seriously. Miss Josephine knows I don't have much of that."
Walter Brown didn't know what to say but he finally managed to offer the sincerest reply he could.
"Son, trust me, there's nothing wrong with being a wheat farmer."
Grant Tracy nodded and looked up at the sky. He sighed miserably and reached into the pocket of his trousers.
"No Sir. Trouble is no-one will give you a chance."
He pulled out the keys to the old pick-up truck in the drive.
"Well Mr. Brown, I guess I'd better be on my way then. I got an early rise in the morning. Got plough the top field before the heat gets too bad."
He extended his hand.
"Thanks for hearing me out all the same Sir. I'm real sorry for wakin' you up."
Walter Brown's hand came up slowly and saddened as the young man was, Grant Tracy shook it firmly.
"Good night to you then Sir."
He started to walk towards the truck before suddenly turning back to face him.
"Mr Brown …. Ummm…. I'd sure appreciate it if you didn't tell Miss Josephine about me callin'."
Walter Brown felt like a total heel. In another life this young man would probably be perfect for Josephine. But this wasn't another life and Grant Tracy had no money and no future for as long as he stayed on that farm.
"Grant…" he said. "Wait a moment son."
Grant Tracy turned around again and fixed his disappointed eyes on Walter Brown.
"Yes Mr. Brown?"
"Grant, there's nothing personal in all this believe me. You're a fine young man. Josephine just wouldn't cope with being a Farmer's wife that's all."
Grant's chin lifted before he said in a dignified voice.
"I already understood your meaning Sir. I might only be a Farmer but I'm not lacking in intelligence."
With that he turned back and headed for the truck.
If Walter Brown could have described the feeling, he would have said it was like Grant Tracy had slapped him squarely across the face. He looked up at the sandstone fence as the young man's words echoed in his head.
"These sandstone bricks woulda cost more than my Daddy and me have earned in the past two years Mr. Brown. I guess money's the difference if you want to be taken seriously. Miss Josephine knows I don't have much of that."
He strode down the path towards the truck as Grant opened to door.
"Grant." he blurted. "There are lots of reasons for my stance on this. It's not just the issues with the farm …Josephine's headstrong and doesn't listen … and she never does as she's told either."
"I already know that Sir."
"And she always has far too much to say for herself."
"I know that too Sir."
"Well how can you honestly come here and tell me you want to marry her Grant?"
The young Tracy son did not reply. He started the ignition and waited for the engine to splutter and choke into life.
"It's OK Mr Brown." he finally commented over the noise. "You don't have to say nothing' else to justify yourself."
He nodded his head abruptly. "Good night to you Sir."
With that the tall young man carefully backed his Father's truck out of the driveway and drove slowly down the road.
Walter Brown stood in the empty drive for nearly ten minutes. He looked at the fence and then in the direction Grant Tracy had gone.
The words haunted him again.
"These sandstone bricks woulda cost more than my Daddy and me have earned in the past two years Mr. Brown. I guess money's the difference if you want to be taken seriously. Miss Josephine knows I don't have much of that."
A sandstone fence.
A sign of wealth and affluence.
Tonight it had pointed out the barrier between the haves and the have nots in this suffering little community in Kansas.
And … he sighed, turning towards the house with a heavy heart … saved Josephine from making the biggest mistake of her life.
NEXT CHAPTER – Picture a Fence – "An upright structure enclosing an area of ground". Picture a family – "A close alliance."