It was a nice Saturday afternoon and my Uncle Steve and Aunt Stacey were having a huge Bar-B-Q at their house. They had the biggest house and the most room which my huge family needed. Aunt Stacey came from a very wealthy family by the name of Winters who owned allot of property. So much property that when Stacey got married, her father gave her a one hundred acre farm plus a bundle of money that had been saved for her since she was a little girl. On this 100 acre farm she and my uncle built a huge home and raised horses. And because my family was so huge, we always had our parties and get togethers there. The Bar-B-Q's were a blast, but this one particular afternoon I did not want to go to this one. I felt my time was too precious to have to spend it with the whole Jacobs clan. Unfortunately my father disagreed with me, and after twenty minutes of arguing, I was informed that I would be going to the party, and I was to be happy about it. Well needless to say I had quite an attitude by the time we got to my uncles long, fence lined driveway. When we reached the end we parked along the fence, next to the other cars, to the left of the large, two story house. Further beyond the house were most of my family members sitting at tables under the huge shade trees which were scattered threw out my Aunt and uncles yard. I didn't count, but there had to be about sixty people there so far, maybe more.
"Looks like everyone is here." My father announced as he got out of the truck.
"Great." I said arrogantly.
"Don't start." He said and handed me a dish of something or other.
I looked at it in disgust and handed it over to my sister for her to carry. "I'm not starting anything." I said.
Seeing that my hands were free, he tried to hand me the cooler. "Here, take this ."
"Give it to Jeff, it's too heavy for me."
"God, you are such a pansy." Jeff sighed and took the cooler from my father.
When the car was emptied of all the things we had to contribute to the party we headed towards the crowd.
"I'm not up for this at all." I said.
"Just try to behave yourself."
"I won't be any different than I am any other day."
"That's what we're afraid of." Jeff laughed.
"Shut up!"
"That's enough Jeff."
When uncle Steve saw us he walked right over and shook my fathers hand. "How are ya?"
"Good, how are you?"
"Fine, just fine....How are you buddy." He said and gave Drew a playful punch in his arm.
Then he came up to me "Hey boy."
I nodded and smiled as best I could.
Ally was lifted off the ground a second later and given a kiss on the cheek. "Hi beautiful."
"Hi uncle Steve."
"Jeffrey, give me that cooler boy." He said playfully and took it from his hands.
Now even closer to the crowd, everyone started to make their way around and great everyone else. Uncle Billy grabbed me by the shirt collar and pulled me back when I tried to pass him without saying hello.
"Hey boy, you staying out of trouble?"
"No, but I'm just too smart to get caught." I said with a smile.
"I'll remember that."
"Seen Kyle and Danny?"
He jerked a thumb towards the field where I saw both my cousins sitting up on the fence looking at the horses. I walked over and climbed up there with them. "Hey, what are you guys doing?"
"Nothing, just thinking about going for a ride. Want to come."
"Sure." I said and boldly pulled a cigarette out of my shirt pocket.
"What are you doing?" Kyle asked after watching me put the cigarette in my mouth.
"Nothing." I said and lit it up. Both Kyle and Danny looked back over their shoulder at the crowd.
"What are you trying to do, get killed or something."
"Nobody can see me." I said not really caring if they could or not. "Here, want some?"
"No way if my father saw me smoking he'd skin me right here." Danny Said about Uncle Tim.
"Your father needs to chill." I said taking a drag.
"Well my dad is always chilled, and he wouldn't like it either." Kyle said about Uncle Steve.
"All right, will you two old ladies just calm the _f_u_c_k_ down."
Just then Allison came over and saw me with the cigarette. "Daddy will kill you if he sees that."
"He ain't gonna see it OK...now get lost."
"You can't tell me what to do."
"No, but I can pound on you if you don't shut up."
"You pound on her and I'll pound on you ." Jeff said as he and my other cousin Kevin walked up behind us.
"What are you her body guard?"
"If I have to be." He said smiling.
"Yeah, well your a fag too." I said trying to act as if I was not intimidated by him and I put the cigarette back in my mouth.
Jeff looked at me in disbelief. "What the _f_u_c_k_ is wrong with you?...Are you nuts. I swear you must like getting your butt whipped." He said looking back at the crowd behind us.
I gave him a frowned look. "Not really."
"Well smoking right out in the open is not a smart move then."
"I'll take my chances."
"Fine...do what you want." He said and held up his hands in surrender. "Look We're going to play some football, you little girls want to play?"
"Not if you and Kev are on the same team." I said and the others gave a nod in agreement.
Playing football with Kevin and Jeff on the same team would be suicide. They were only two of the best players on the high school team. The coach said he wished he could bottle what ever Gene it was that my family had to make such good athletes. He once told Jeff that he couldn't wait till I got to high school to see what I had to offer. Jeff didn't have the heart to tell him that I sucked at most sports. Not because I couldn't play, but because I had no tolerance for it. I was also a soar looser.
"No Kevin on one team, me on the other."
I flipped my cigarette on the ground. "All right." I said and we walked over to the north field.
After everyone who wanted to play was on the field we were split up, nine on each team. On Jeff's team was Bill Jr., Scott, Kyle, Danny, Ian, Drew, Glenn, Uncle Steve and Uncle John. Kevin's team consisted of My father, Joel, Jake, Steve, Uncle Billy, Uncle Ian, Uncle Tim, Brad, and myself.
Let me just say that I found out what it was like to be my brothers opponent. He played the game like it was for the championship and not just for fun. Every time I got a hold of the ball it seemed he was in my face and trying to squash me into the ground. And being the hot head I was, I got good and tired of it. I knew he was doing it maliciously, even thought no one else saw it like that. I took it for a while, but by the fifth tackle, I was so hopping mad that I couldn't see straight. I decided that enough was enough and the next time Jeff came near me he would be sorry.
Sure enough, the next time I got the football in my hands, here he came, heading right for me. I lost it. When he got about three feet away I stopped running and threw the football at his head, full force. The football hit him right in the face so hard it knocked him back a few steps. Everyone stopped instantly.
"OUCH..._f_u_c_k_!!" Jeff shouted, covering his nose with his hands.
My father ran over and grabbed my arm suddenly and whipped me around to face him. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
I tried to pull away, but he tightened his grip. "It was an accident." I said.
"That was no accident, I saw the way you threw that ball. Now what's your problem"
"He's crazy." Jeff yelled.
"He kept tackling me!"
"It's called football you little asshole!" Jeff yelled.
"Screw you Jeff! It wasn't like that and you know it!" I yelled.
"All right, that's enough." My father yelled and pushed me toward the fence at the edge of the field. "Your done, get off the _d_a_m_n_ field."
"What." I yelled.
"You heard me, now get off the _d_a_m_n_ field!" He yelled and pointed his finger in that direction.
"No!" I yelled.
He gave me a look that should have sent my feet in motion, but I wouldn't let myself move. "Boy, this is your Father talking here....now if you knew what was good for you, you'd get off the field."
"NO!!" I yelled looking up defiantly. "I'm not going...."
Before I could finish my sentence his hand shot out and he slapped right across my face.
"Uhhh!" I yelled stumbling back holding my face. I hadn't expected that.
"What else you got to say?" He asked looking me right in the eye.
I closed my mouth and gave him the meanest look I could come up with, but he was too angry to notice. Then his words came slowly. "Get...Off...the...Field." He said threw his teeth.
I turned and stomped off the field. "You didn't see anything when Jeff was doing it to me." I yelled over my shoulder.
I was so angry that I felt like screaming, which I did not want to do in front of them. So I walked across the yard past the picnic tables where the rest of the family was sitting. Allison saw me coming and, in her concern, stopped in front of me. "What's wrong Mike." She asked.
Now I know she was just trying to help, but I was so angry that my mind was not my own. "Just leave me alone." I said threw my teeth and with that I put both my hands on her shoulder and shoved her out of the way, sending her flying.
She hit the ground hard and started screaming bloody murder, which brought everyone running, including my father.
"Daddy!!" She cried. "My ankle.....My ankle!"
"Ally, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that." I told her, but she only screamed for my father.
He was there in a matter of seconds, kneeling beside her, checking her foot and ankle. Thank God she only twisted it, but he started screaming at me, demanding to know what the hell happened.
I opened my mouth to explain/lie, but my family members beat me to it. "He pushed her Rickie." My aunt told him.
"You pushed her?" He yelled looking down at me.
"Daddy!!"Ally yelled.
He looked away from me and returned his attention to Allison. She was still crying when he scooped her up in his arms. "It's OK baby, Daddy's here." He told her as he hugged her.
"I didn't do anything Daddy, he just pushed me." She cried.
"I know baby, I know.......Drew, take Ally inside and get her some ice for her ankle." He said and tried to place her into Drew's waiting arms, but she screamed and clung to his neck.
"No! I want you." She cried..
"I know and I'll be back in a while."
When I heard the words "A while" my stomach dropped.
Finally Allison let go of him and allowed herself to be placed in Drew's arms. He kissed her forehead as soon as he had her. "Come on little sister. I think you deserve some ice cream." He told her and walked off towards the house.
My father watched them for a minute, then his eyes fell on me. The look on his face was enough to make me want to cry. His eyes were so dark and angry. I thought sure this was going to be my last day on earth.
I swallowed hard. "I didn't mean to do that." I told him.
He reached down suddenly and started to quickly undo the belt around his waist, which was my Que. to get the hell out of there, but he grabbed the upper part of my arm before I could move.
"I said I didn't mean it....come on.....I told her I was sorry. " I yelled as I frantically tried to pull away from him. "Ouch Dad....Your hurting my arm...Let go!"
"SHUT UP!!" He yelled and the next thing I knew he had me face down in the grass with his knee in my back.
"Dad! Don't, not in front of everybody!" I shouted, but he didn't listen.
Then the beating began.
CRACK CRACK CRACK CRACK CRACK CRACK CRACK CRACK CRACK CRACK CRACK CRACK
"OWL....STOP IT.......OUCH.....GET OFF OF ME....UHHHH.... DAD!!!" I screamed.
"Don't you EVER (CRACK)......push your SISTER (CRACK) like that AGAIN (CRACK)!!!!
"I'm sorry!!......OWLLL.....Please Stop.....OUCH.....DAD!!" I yelled and with that I started crying right there in front of everybody.
"You want to LEARN(CRACK) everything the HARD (CRACK) WAY (CRACK) well then that's FINE(CRACK) WITH(CRACK) ME (CRACK)." He yelled as he whipped me. It was hell.
After bringing the belt down a few more times he finally stopped and yanked me up on my feet. I started rubbing and jumping around like crazy.
"Get your ass in the house!" He demanded and gave me a shave in that direction.
I flew in that house, let me tell you.
When I burst threw the door my grandmother was standing there with a dish in her hand ready to walk it outside. "Oh good lord." She said a little startled when she saw my face. "What on earth .........?"
I dropped my head to hide my tears and just walked into the living room without saying anything to her.
A few seconds later I heard the door open and her voice again. "What's happened?"
My fathers voice answered her. "That boy!!" was all he said.