The Fury Of The Truth

People all around us have superstitions, traditions, and tribal rituals. Completely normal behavior understood. In this story; a family tradition goes challenged by peers as more than mere folklore.

         The fury Of The Truth

      A friend of ours, well liked and all that, most of the time. John Callihan has his peculiar flaws as most of us do at moments. John though, he came from an imposing background. A real city slicker in a way, he came across as different, but not too terrible a person. Although he did mention fom time to time his family roots were tied to old traditions. Something we blew off as folklore stories. John was using it for mere conversation. So we all thought at the time; not thinking about it too much any-who. Everyone would be chit-chatting, so John would throw this thing in. We thought he was being high and mighty, but we were amused. But at times-it seemed as though John was being serious.

      When after a while it would come up all the time. A family crest came up, he seemed so proud of that one moment, and made it sound like spooky things were surrounded all around it the next. John Callihan brought up ancient history about, with the crest applies moral guidance. On moral lines never to cross. That contemporary times, and lifestyle are no exception to the rule. Some real weird talk came out of his mouth saying; "When an especially heroic ancestry crest follows what is done." "One has to represent an act in the moral light." Amusing statements indeed, we didn't know where John got it, or what this meant.

      A particular circumstance John mumbled, not knowing we were probably listening, when we shouldn't have ben, but he was interesting to eavesdrop on, while talking to himself.. We liked talking about him. John blurted something out about the Callihan family wouldn't believe what they heard. And things like, didn't know if they seen it for themselves yet, or not. Something must of been on his mind to be thinking out loud; we didn't care. Like I mentioned; John, he was sort of entertaining.

      John was an unassuming individual, though. But every time he mentioned that family crest. John, he never quite fit in well with his own family tradition. The sort of self proclaimed black sheep of the family; like an outsider. Moving far away from beyond traditional conformity. Breaking rules, living lies, a sin in his phony shroud hidden from the wrath of the crest. Like it is, John is as normal as a person can be. Outside of his always talking about that far out stuff, John is a decent guy.

Live by the crest John. Never give in though; live and let live John.

      Their inconsistent with the least of John Callihans problem; getting his colored fling pregnant. John lived far away from home for the vogue, cardinal life. No one is in his kind of thinking. Flaunting a black girlfriend as if she were a trophy of defiance on his family. Once the family wanted to make plans on a trip to visit at Johns place, because of a rumor. And being use to tight family ties. Mama and Papa want to stay at Johns home for their visit. This really threw John for a loop. What am I doing. This isn't going to go over well. My family will not believe it. On and on, John became un-nerved, unraveled and breaking down.

      The scuttlebutt around; is Johns world suddenly became surrounded with drama. Folks made fun of all the nervous twitches, and John talking to himself constantly. John was entertaining, everyone watching him sweat for a while. Even his scar, a diagonal scratch mark from his cheek to the left eyebrow. We laughed when someone brought in an eye patch, and told John to put it on. They thought he looked like a pirate. John put a lot of attention on himself worrying too much.

      Because of John Callihan and his extreme dramatic attitude. Swinging from cocky guy, to being scared of his parents over having a black girlfriend. He was losing our respect, and beginning to annoy people. John has lost his mind; John asked to meet Martha, when he saw her-he fell in love at first cite; just one of those things that happen to good people. Their made for each other, John needs to drop the tude, and tell his family the honest truth no matter how brutal they become over this. It's his life.

      His next big agenda, John cleaning his entire house before their arrival. Their folks of Johns, and must be strict on him. Wonder if it's because their coming up for Xmas. Johns buddies couldn't care less about his having a black girlfriend, or his parents spying on him. It's about John acting as if we are beneath dirt, and the holier than thou attitude. John comes up with the strangest behavior, he's a hard case to figure out. Perhaps he's got some mental issues over this; black girlfriend and that family tradition, the family crest, and code of honor thing going down.

      Knowing the old person, it's not the same John. All this talk about family crest, and moral tradition and honor. His obsession with pursuit for truth, efficacy and blood talk. If John Callihan was acting weird before, it's full blown crazy scary now. John is acting too nervous over something other than visits and having a colored woman. So after asking John for what, he told his parents Martha is white. For two years he had them believe her family bloodline can be traced back to royalty. I couldn't believe my ears. I cannot believe that this guy actually went that far, and told his parents-she is a white woman with royal background.

      John Callihans parents receive royalties for having their royal family crest. Now they want to meet Martha to start making wedding arrangements. Martha wasn't supposed to be a black woman, explaining this is making John a crazy person. Well John would have been alright if he wasn't so defiant of the family tradition. Right about now, I can see why he is so scared. This is so funny-its not even funny.

      We tried to talk sense into him. John; it doesn't matter these days. Over the Xmas holiday, and back at work we all were talking about John and how his family might have reacted. Well Dave, who set Martha and John up. Had some ideas he wanted to say. Dave knows, he knew something about why John didn't show. We knew Dave talks to Martha. Why Dave is hush hush about it is a mystery.

      Just as soon as Dave left work to attend a funeral, Joe, our answer man, he waved us over to his area. Joe talked real soft not to let anyone else hear what he was saying. Apparently Dave was on his way to John Callihans Funeral. Dave was taking Martha, and he told Joe because Dave didn't want to broadcast the bad news out of respect. Dave only mentioned what Martha thinks possibly happened. To not say anything to no one; that means anyone.

      Martha mentioned where she was in the house with Johns Mama, eating holiday cookies and having coffee at the moment an ambulance arrived. This thing has murder undertones. A family crest, strict rights to royalty, bloodline, and a tight code. The guy was serious about being scared, you better believe it. Hiding the secret of having a colored girlfriend for two years out of some fear about crossing moral lines. John Callihan must have tried disowning his family, or the other way around; in the old fashioned way. Maybe they did know, and were on their way up here to straighten things out one way, or another.

Death is a steep price to pay for out of love for someone. Martha was saying that- saying, John and Papa were calling off the wedding idea. What Papa wanted, John has to agree.There was a bad storm Xmas eve, so the both of them took a bottle of scotch outside, which it was still early in the morning. At about midnight Papa came inside, saying a tree limb fell while John was cleaning up around the yard. The limb fell, struck John on the head killing him instantly. He called an ambulance, and it's over. We figured out the rest on our own. Let the truth be known. The Fury of the Truth.  End of Story    JJN

                       'Be immune to rumor'    Jimmy Nuzz
     

     

     

Author's Note

The story of truth verses folklore. Written for fans addicted to rumor.