by: KK Duke
In this story autism is discussed. I know a bit of information regarding the disease, but I don’t know everything. Please forgive me if I state incorrect information and feel free to e-mail me with correct information. Thanks!
The Truth About the Kid
Uncle Jesse decided it was necessary to have a family meeting after dinner. Before Bo had a chance to get up Uncle Jesse said, “Kids, we need to talk.”
“I need to tell you about you Uncle Jackson, his son John and his wife Peggy so that you fully understand what’s going on. Jackson was the oldest of all of us kids. Jackson hated to be the oldest because he didn’t like responsibilities. As soon as he could, Jackson bolted for the big city life.”
“What’s the point of all this, Uncle Jesse?” Daisy asked.
“I’m getting to that,” Uncle Jesse said. “I need to tell you about KK’s family. Your life may depend on it.”
“What?” Bo exclaimed. “Why would our lives depend on knowing about crazy Uncle Jackson?”
A giggling sound came out of KK.
“See Uncle Jesse?” Bo stated. “Even KK knows he nuts and she’s only a baby.”
“Listen, Jackson was an intelligent young man. He just didn’t know the difference between right and wrong. When those mix together that means trouble.”
“We have that here in Hazzard everyday,” Luke commented.
“This is different Luke. Jackson was a straight-A student in school that could have gone to any college. The only problem was that Ma and Pa had too many babies to feed instead of sending him to college. He was personally offended by them not offering to help.”
“Okay,” Daisy said. “How did John enter the picture?”
“When Jackson left for the big city he went to Detroit to work on the assembly lines. Many southerners were trying to get in to work at Ford because some guy named Henry Ford would pay them $5 a day. At that time it was considered a lot of money.”
Uncle Jesse was interrupted by KK who had announced by pounding her hands on table that she wanted out.
“All right, you impatient one,” Bo said as he unlocked her safety strap.
A few seconds later… “Okay, whose turn is it to change her?” Bo asked in hopes of getting out of it.
“Oh, Bo! You can change her diaper. After all, you can use the training,” Luke said with a giggle.
Disgusted, but knowing he was stuck doing it, Bo took KK to her room to change her.
Uncle Jesse tried to begin again but a loud, “Oh, KK” could be heard from Bo in the other room. “You are a stinkpot, you know that KK?” KK just giggled at him which melted Bo’s heart. Bo continued the conversation, “You do, don’t ya!”
After Bo finished changing her diaper, Bo told her to chill on the bed while he went into the bathroom to wash his hands and dispose of the dirty diaper outside.
A few moments later Bo returned with KK to the kitchen.
“As I was saying Jackson met up with a woman who was well to do. I don’t know the exact story if she wanted a child or it was a moment of passion, but she became pregnant. Jackson didn’t know what to do. He, himself was only 21 and wasn’t ready to settle down to parenthood. The woman accepted his decision, but still kept the kid and raised him.”
Uncle Jesse continued after taking a sip of his coffee. “John and Jackson butted heads. They never got along. They were both fiercely independent. John adored his mother, mainly because she could provide him anything he wanted. Anytime Jackson had anything bad to say about her John would defend her even if it came to violence. The violence would escalate between the two. The older John became the wider the mean streak became. When he was fifteen he and his father got into it for the last time. I don’t know how it happened, but Jackson died in a middle of a street in after being involved in a bar brawl.”
“So, why would John be so mean?” Bo asked bouncing KK on his knee.
“John was diagnosis with autism, but a very mild form of it. Autism affects more boys than girls and there are vary degrees about it. They believe that KK has the same thing.”
“What about Aaron or Karen?” Daisy asked.
“From what I have been told, they are considered normal. They don’t exhibit the signs like KK does.”
“So, what are we suppose to be afraid of?” Bo asked.
“Remember the temper that I told you about that John has?”
“Yes,” Bo said.
“You don’t think that John would come down here to hurt her, do you Uncle Jesse?” Luke asked.
“I don’t know. He may learn that the job wasn’t finished and want to finish it.”
“What job?” Daisy asked
“Finishing her off,” Luke said.
So what are we suppose to do? Live in fear for the rest of our lives, when nothing could come of it?” Daisy asked.
“No. You’re right Daisy. Nothing could come of it and we have wasted our lives worrying,” Uncle Jesse said. “I just think you should know in case something happens.”
“Who wouldn’t want to harm her, anyways?” Bo asked.
“Who knows? People aren’t all like the ones in Hazzard. We’re lucky to live in a place that everyone knows everyone and is willing to help,” Luke commented.
“So, what happened to KK’s mother?” Bo asked.
“I’m not going to tell y’all the details because it would make you have nightmares for a long time to come. But what I tell you is that John hired somebody to kill her,” Uncle Jesse paused. He could see the reactions on Daisy and Bo’s face. They were in disbelief.
“Apparently, John was upset with Peggy because the kids became her life. He never wanted kids I guess. When KK wasn’t considered normal I guess he blew a gasket. For punishment he had his wife murder and his daughter as well,” Luke stated.
Bo, who had been holding KK all this time, wrapped his arms around her in a protective bear hug. Everyone knew what could happen but prayed that it wouldn’t.
It wouldn’t be for many years, but John would eventually get to Hazzard with only one thing on his mind: Revenge. But that folks is for another time.