The Family of Brothers, A Love Story

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Once upon a time there was a family of brothers, Jaden, Larry, Melvin, and Michael. Jaden was the oldest, next was Larry, then Melvin, followed by Micheal the youngest. One day, they went fishing with their father, something they all looked forward to whenever their father had the time. Their father was a great man in the town, the Mayor, and he rarely had time to spend with his family, but Sundays was his official day off. “No city work tomorrow,” their dad would announce on Saturday nights. And when his wife was away for the weekend visiting her relatives and not taking the boys to church, he would add, “I’m taking my boys fishing!” The boys would squeal with glee, especially Jaden and Michael. Jaden always wanted to drive.

“Can I drive, please?’

“No Jaden, not until you get your permit. 

“But you started driving when you were 15.” 

“That was a different time, son. One day you will be driving your brothers around, just wait.” 

Their father’s words were wise but not comforting enough for Jaden as he hung his head, but Michael smiled broadly. Going fishing was the only time Michael got to spend time with his father, even if he had to share some of it with his brothers, but that’s all Michael knew. Before Michael was born, their father worked from home as an accountant and spent more time with his family. By the time Michael was born, his father had successfully run for mayor and was rarely home.

Driving to their father’s favorite fishing spot was an experience. Their Chevy sedan was barely large enough for everyone, and whatever didn’t fit into the trunk had to sit on the front passenger seat, like the long fishing poles that stretched over the front seat like a palm tree and the large cooler containing their lunch and fishing bait. Jaden, Larry, and Melvin sat in the back seat. The only remaining seat was a small space between the driver and the fishing poles. Micheal, being the smallest, sat there, squashed, and unable to move, but he didn’t mind because that’s when he could talk with his father, just the two of them; well, his father did most of the talking and Michael listened. 

As he drove, the father would point out the things he did to help the town, like the single mother he helped get a business loan to start the hair salon on the corner, and the traffic light he had installed at a busy intersection were a young boy was hit by a car two years ago. Michael’s dad wasn’t a boastful man, he’d rather talk about someone else’s accomplishments; however, riding in the car was the only time Michael would hear his father reflect out loud. Michael knew his father was proud of what he did for their town. Micheal smiled and beamed with pride because he was proud too and the only one listening. 

It was tough for Jaden sitting between Larry and Melvin in the back seat. Larry and Melvin would sing along whenever Motown songs played on their portable radio and slap hands with each other when they felt the song’s groove. But sitting in the middle was the only way Jaden could observe his father’s driving –Jaden wanted to get his driver’s license at the end of the year when he turned 16. Jaden could see the road, study the traffic signs, and watch his father’s driving techniques: when he put on the signal to make a turn, how he gestured to allow a car to get into his lane, and how he tried to be patient whenever a car cut him off. “What the…? Hmm, I guess he’s in a hurry,” Jaden would hear his father say, but never a curse word. Jaden knew the curse words his father omitted and sometimes Jaden would say them under his breath. Once, when a car cut his father off and his father said, “Got… to have patience today,” Jaden uttered the curse word his father wouldn’t say. Immediately, Jaden saw his father looking at him through the rear mirror. His father smiled but didn’t say a word. It was their inside joke.

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Their father’s favorite fishing spot was from the rocks that boarded the great lake about an hour’s drive from their home. The large rocks were set on an incline that separated the road from the lake. The base of the lake, just beyond the rocks, was where the fish gathered – mostly bass and sheep head – searching for their morning meal. The boys and their father arrived just after sunrise. The lake was calm and quiet except for the occasional caw of a seagull flying overhead. 

Fishing from the lake’s rocky shore was fun for some and boring for others. Larry and Melvin couldn’t play their radio because their father said it scared the fish. So, they just went through the motions, baiting their poles with worms and dropping their lines into the water. If it wasn’t for Michael occasionally calling out, “You got a bite,” Larry and Melvin wouldn’t know their bobbers had sunk and their poles were in jeopardy of being taken away by the fish. Usually, they caught the poles in time and yanked them out of the water, but their hooks would be picked clean. Their father would chuckle and shake his head saying, “Larry and Melvin, feeding the fish again.” Michael always tied the end of his pole to a rock before propping it up, preventing fish from dragging his pole into the water.

Jaden enjoyed fishing when he was younger, now he had other things on his mind. Jaden passed the time sitting on a rock studying the state driver’s manual and looking forward to lunch. Jaden liked food, and it was his job to sit out the picnic lunch he helped his father pack. Jaden knew the peanut butter and banana sandwich was for Michael, the P&J sandwich with the ends cut off was for Larry, the peanut butter only sandwich was for Melvin, and the double-decker P&J sandwiches were for his father and him.

Jaden announced lunch was ready and everyone gathered around the spread carefully laid out on the rocks, except Michael. Michael remained perched upon his rock, eyes fixed on his bobber in the water. It was bobbing slightly, then suddenly, “plop,” it disappeared into the water.

Michael snatched his pole from the rocks, hooking whatever was nibbling on his bait beneath the water’s surface. Cane poles have no reel, only the line attached to the end of the pole. Michael tried to pull his line in but whatever was on the other end was too strong. “Ah, you got something now,” his father hollered with excitement. “I got a big one,” Michael shouted as he struggled to pull it in. “Hold on Son!” His father yelled as he dropped his lunch and made his way over the rocks towards Michael. 

Michael desperately held on, his hands firmly clasped around the end of the pole, stumbling over the rocks as the fish pulled him closer to the water’s edge. “Let go of the pole,” his father yelled as he climbed down the rocks, but Michael didn’t, couldn’t. Michael fell into the lake. His father leaped into the lake and disappeared under the water. Larry and Melvin ran into the lake, but it was too deep. They stood at the edge screaming, “Dad! Dad! Michael! Help! Somebody help!” Jaden watched from the rocks, in shock, unable to move.

The police came. They searched the water. 

Jaden drove the car home with Larry and Melvin sitting silently in the back seat. There was no singing, no hand slapping. Jaden watched the road diligently but no longer with curiosity or patience. When a car cut him off, “Got damn driver,” Jaden yelled. When the red light interrupted his driving, “Shit,” was Jaden’s reply. Jaden didn’t enjoy driving, because all he thought about was, “If Michael had just let go of that stupid pole, my father would still be alive.” And that’s what Jaden told their mother when he explained their deaths to her; she stopped talking for two years; that’s what Jaden told the other family members at the funeral; that’s what Jaden told his friends at school; at his job; and later to his wife and children.

Forty years later, a man came to the small town. He had heard about the great mayor of the city and the tragic accident that took his life and that of his youngest son. The man heard so much about the story he wanted to visit the mayor’s only relative living in the town, Jaden, now close to 60 years old. The man found Jaden sitting on a bench overlooking the lake were the father and son drowned, it was the anniversary of that dreadful day. The ripples across the choppy lake seemed to match the bitterness lingering beneath Jaden’s heavily wrinkled brow. He looked much older than 60.

“May I sit,” the man asked. Without speaking, Jaden eased over. The man sat. They both silently stared at the lake. Jaden broke the silence. “My father and brother drowned in this lake. If my brother had let go of his fishing pole, they would both be alive today. Damn him.”  “Do you really mean that,” the man asked. “What” Jaden replied. “’Damn him.’ Do you really mean to damn your little brother,” the man asked. Jaden was surprised, no one had ever asked him this question before. Jaden had to think, but then quickly replied, “Yes!” 

“Do you know what that means?” 

“Not really, but that’s how I feel.”

“It means you have sentenced your brother to a life of damnation, of no forgiveness, no joy, no peace, just sorrow.”

“Well maybe he deserves that.”

“But that’s not what happens…. What happens is the person doing the damning ends up living a life of no joy, no peace, just sorrow. Because they can’t forgive, they end up damning themselves.”

Jaden looked at his hands on his lap. He seemed surprised to see them held in tight fists and wondered how long he had been holding them that way, maybe ever since that day he drove his brothers home. Tears filled Jaden’s eyes and slowly slid down his cheeks. The man continued, “It wasn’t your brother’s fault. Yes, he wanted to catch that fish and make his father proud of him. He too wanted to share a moment with your father like you always had, but Michael was trapped. The line became tied around his hands, and he couldn’t let go. He desperately wanted to let go, and that’s what your father saw. Your father leaped into the water as he was taking out his pocketknife. Your father knew it was risky, but he also knew if he didn’t make it back, you would carry on and take care of the family. But he expected you to do it with the same love and compassion he tried to give his family and the community.” 

“He gave a lot to the community, alright,” Jaden remarked bitterly. 

“Yes, your father spent more time with the community and less with his family, like not teaching you how to drive, and he is sorry,” the man said compassionately.

Jaden starred at the man in disbelief, his mouth and wet eyes wide open. Jaden asked, “How do you know this?” Suddenly, the man’s body light up with light from a source unknown. A radiant light shown all around the man. Jaden blinked several times, trying to clear his eyes, but the man’s light remained. 

“What the…? Who are you?”

“I am Michael.”

Jaden froze, “Michael?”

“Yes, your little brother.”

“Am I dreaming?”

“I died that day in the water, but I asked God to let my spirit remain on Earth because I wanted to comfort you and our family. I tried to protect you as you drove our brothers home by slowing you down, putting slower drivers in front of you and several red lights, giving you time to think and drive safely. I tried to comfort you when you told our mother what happened and when you told others. And I tried to comfort you by asking God to give you a loving spouse and healthy children, but each time you pushed my help away. I cried. I was hurt whenever you spoke damnation of my name. It seemed like there was nothing I could do to get you to love me or the memory of me. Finally, God helped me realize love wasn’t something you earn, it’s something you give. Loving someone is a choice.

God has allowed me one more chance to comfort you before my spirit is called to Heaven, to help you let go of whatever pain or blame you’re holding on to, to forgive, to stop damning Michael and yourself, and begin letting God’s love heal all your wounded places. God loves you, and I do too.”

Jaden closed his eyes and dropped his head into his open hands and wept. His body convulsed releasing long suppressed bitterness and pain like an erupting volcano. Jaden cried, “I’m sorry Michael. I will never damn your name or your memory, again… Please God, heal my heart.” The waters became calm. Jaden stopped shaking and looked up. He saw a bright rainbow across the lake. “Well, I’ll be… look at that,” Jaden said and turned towards Michael, but Michael was gone.