Why Mr. Doss Had To Die
by John Riley
It was my mom that sent me over to see Mister Doss. Said he had nobody to feed but one crazy brother and if I stayed long enough and was agreeable Mr. Doss would make sure we got fed. Mr. Doss kept his crazy brother leashed like a dog to a wrecked Packard. Said he had to if he wanted to get any work done. The Packard didn't have doors so his brother could scamper inside when it rained. When it was hot and dusty all he could do was sit on the running board with brown spit drooling out of his mouth.
In summer when the garden came in I'd go home with some fresh beans or maybe a tomato or two and a couple of potatoes. Mr. Doss showed me how to dig up the potatoes after the row had been furrowed. He held my little hand in his and guided it through the dirt. In the winter at hog slaughtering time I'd help salt the meat and when it was cured Mr. Doss would send me home with some bacon and maybe some beets he'd canned and a jar of peaches. I went over there when I was told. Then I got too old and couldn't go back. It wasn't long after I left home. Never thought I'd have reason to go back.
In summer when the garden came in I'd go home with some fresh beans or maybe a tomato or two and a couple of potatoes. Mr. Doss showed me how to dig up the potatoes after the row had been furrowed. He held my little hand in his and guided it through the dirt. In the winter at hog slaughtering time I'd help salt the meat and when it was cured Mr. Doss would send me home with some bacon and maybe some beets he'd canned and a jar of peaches. I went over there when I was told. Then I got too old and couldn't go back. It wasn't long after I left home. Never thought I'd have reason to go back.
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Author's Note
Published at In Between Altered States
Other stories by John Riley
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Quirky and sweet portrayal.
Fave, John. I like the way some of your stories are shown through such a bizarre prism.
Thanks, Gloria and David
Really interesting. I'd like to see this one expaaaaaaaaaaaaand.
I've seen this before, was impressed then and continue to be.
*
What microfiction looks like.
"Then I got too old and couldn't go back. It wasn't long after I left home. Never thought I'd have reason to go back."
Good, as is. *
Yeah, bizarre, and made more so given the great clarity and understated tone in which its told. Good work.
You probably know why I dig this sooooooo much.
“Mr. Doss kept his crazy brother leashed like a dog to a wrecked Packard.”
This is very good.
Like how the piece circles back to the title. Took me a minute. I like that. *
Has a Steinbeckian feel. The flat, nonjudgmental voice (even at the end) hones the irony to a razor edge. I felt my jaw drop as I read this.
Thanks everyone for the nice and supportive comments.
Evoking piece, John. I love the details. *
Thanks, Foster
This chilled me the first time I read it a long time ago. You do these Southern Gothic flashes so well, John.
*
Thanks, Barry
Gothic is a good word to describe this. Very intense, John.
Thanks, Gessy
Well-told tale with a real "flow". I know it's hit because readers enjoy it (that's the name of the game). *