Daddy was soon aware of Uncle Wayne’s schemes for Momma.  The high school called his mother the afternoon Wayne slipped out of his last class to go meet Momma.  Daddy met Uncle Wayne in the front room as soon as he got home.

“Just what are you up to now, Wayne?”

“I’m walking in the house…going to get a snack…maybe do some homework.”

“You mean you were actually at school long enough today to write down your homework assignments?”

Uncle Wayne’s eyes widened.  

“The school called when you skipped out of your last class.”  

Wayne’s mouth straightened and he turned his eyes to the floor.  Daddy’s face turned red, “What are you doing, Wayne.”

Wayne’s eyes turned on Daddy, furious, “What does it matter to you?  You’ve got your entire life planned out from here.  Why are you so worried about mine?”

“Because having a kid brother flunk out of high school and run his life into the ground isn’t in my plans, if you had to know.”

“I’m not running my life into the ground, Hor.”

“Then what are you doing?  Because I’d really like to know!”

“I’m living my life, Hor.  MINE.”

“Well it looks to me like you’re ruining it.  Where were you Wayne?”

“I was going to see somebody.”

“Who?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“WHO?”

Uncle Wayne’s voice delivered his response with a mixture of sarcasm and challenge.  “Oh, you know who.  You’ve even met this person before.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Wayne.”

“Think, Hor…think.  You’ll figure it out.  You were real nice to this person the other night.  In fact, if you hadn’t planned your life down to your burial plot at the memorial gardens, I’d say you just might make room for her.”

“Her?”  Daddy shut his eyes.  “Wayne, what are you doing?  She’s too old for you.  Why?”

“What does it matter to you any way?  I haven’t heard any plans that include women in your life.  Just let those of us who know how to get a girl have them.”

Daddy stood up looking as if he might hit Uncle Wayne.

“Go ahead, Hor.  Hit me.  Get it out.  I’d rather you do that than give me another stupid lecture.”

The commotion had drawn their mother down from her bedroom.  She stood in the doorway, her faded house dress contrasting with the rising color in her face.  “Boys,” her voice barely above a whisper.  “Let it go.”

“Yeah, Hor.  Let it go.”

Uncle Wayne looked at his mother and then his brother.  He looked as if he might say something, but then ran out of the house and started down the driveway to the street, headed for town.  Daddy made ready to go after him.

“Let him go, Horace.”

“But Momma…”

Grandmom sat down on the couch.  “It’s time to let him go.  He doesn’t know where he’s going or what he’s doing.  He might fall.  He’ll know which way to turn once he stands up.”    Grandmom’s sigh was tired accompaniment.  “That’s the way it is sometimes.  Let him go.”

Daddy watched his brother retreat.  Anger, resentment and loss played on Daddy’s face.  His mother turned to look at him.

“You’ll figure something out, Horace.  Take care of yourself for a while.”

Daddy nodded and then shuffled out of the room leaving his Mother sitting on the couch.  He went to the garage to tinker with his car and think.