Brogue 2007 - Belhaven College

t h e b r o g u e
Saunders are a soldiering family, the family part comes first. I—I don’t
want to die alone. I haven’t even seen my daughter-in-law, communist
that she must be; she’s Canadian and married to you! And my
grandkids. I want my chance to be a granddaddy.”
“I’ll check with Anne, but I’m sure she’d love to have you. I think
you might need to curse a little less, for the sake of Marie and Wendy.”
“I’ll curse all I goddamn want to.” Mr. Saunders replied
defensively. “I cursed all the time at you, and look at—well, okay, I’ll
give it some thought.”
They stood on the hill at the cemetery until the light began to fail
before Jacob’s father turned around and started his hike toward the
truck. He turned around and smiled at Jacob.
“Do they have many wars in Canada?”
“Not really. Why do you think I went there?”
“Well, goddamit, I’m gonna have to change that. You and Canada.”
“I’m sure you will, Daddy.”
After that, Jacob embraced his father for the first time in his life.
It felt good to be loved by his parent, but, just in case of a mistake, he
pretended he was just steadying his father for the walk down the hill.
10