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.

by: Kristy Duke

A wave of self doubt rushes through me as I stare at the aging, small building that lies only a couple of feet in front of my scratched up front bumper. Above me, the dark dreary gray sky slowly seeps into darkness of another starless night while small droplets of rain begin to fall upon my dirt streaked windshield. Abruptly, a loud crack of laughter quickly brings me back into reality as I watch a young couple slowly walking past my driver’s door holding each other tightly on their way to the old scarred wooden door. For a long moment I watch the petite woman holding onto the waist of the muscular, broad shoulder man as I allow my thoughts to silently sink back into it’s harbor of doubts and questions.

Watching the young couple disappear within the closed door of the bar, I slowly watch the rain slowly picking up upon my windshield for a long moment before looking down at my car’s radio clock. Eight o’clock. It’s now or never. Taking a deep breath, I slowly step out into the fall’s chilly evening as the icy cold sprinkles of water begin to drip down upon me, sending chills rushing across my num body. Watching my muddy boots dragging in the muddy parking lot, I slowly reach the closed door to have an handsome blond man beat me to the door, opening it for me.

Continue reading →

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!

Jesse was obviously distracted while he prepared dinner for his family. Daisy, who was helping him, inquired as to why.

“What’s wrong Uncle Jesse?”

“Unh, what,” Uncle Jesse said, coming out of a trance.

“I asked if anything was wrong. Why did Doc Appleby call?”

“I will talk about it later.”

Daisy had a look of concern in her eyes. It wasn’t often that Doc Appleby made phone calls. And why so quickly after Luke had taken KK there? What was wrong with the kid? Daisy was concerned.

“Daisy please set the table; dinner is almost ready. Also, call Bo in from the fields”

“Sure”

Uncle Jesse kept thinking about whether he should tell the kids about KK. Should he even tell Luke? He was so attached to her; it would break his heart once he learned that she was autistic. He had to tell someone, someone more than Doc Appleby that knew what the best course of action would be for her.

The rumbling of the General soon could be heard. Luke got out of the car and then took KK out. He couldn’t wait to talk to Uncle Jesse about what had happened.

From the kitchen, “Luke, is that you?”

“Yes,” Luke stated as he walked in the door with KK. “Give me a minute to lay KK down and I’ll be right with you.”

Uncle Jesse had decided that it would be best for everyone to know and understand what they were up against. He knew a little bit about autism because he had a friend that had a son that was diagnosis with it when Luke was little. From what he understood was that the person was locked up in their own world and didn’t show any emotion. Physically the person was there, but emotionally they were off somewhere else. He also knew that Luke knew the same information as well regarding autism.

As dinner commenced, Jesse tried to listen in on the conversation, but really wasn’t interested in what the kids were saying.

“Uncle Jesse, what’s wrong?” Bo asked.

“Kids, we have to talk. I know that some of you, looking at Daisy and Bo, are not too happy with KK right know. I’m hoping that in time that we will become adjusted.”

“I love her Uncle Jesse, but that screaming business…” Bo stated.

“I know Bo. Kids, we may have a bigger problem on our hands with KK,” Uncle Jesse stated. He could see the nervous reaction on Luke’s face.

“What did Doc say on the phone then?” Luke asked.

“Luke, he didn’t have the heart to tell you when you were there. He could see that emotional bond that you have with her. I don’t want to be the one to tell you this but they believe she has autism.”

“What?” Luke couldn’t believe his ears. This couldn’t be possible; after all she had spoken to him.

“I thought those who were autistic couldn’t speak?” Luke asked.

“Most do not.”

“Well then she doesn’t have it. She spoke her first words when I was with her at Hazzard Pond with her.”

A sigh of relief came over Uncle Jesse’s face. He hoped that KK would continue to speak.

“I’m confused,” Daisy piped in. “What is so bad about having autism? I’ve never heard of it before.”

“Most that have autism never speak and live in a world within themselves. Kids, Doc just said that the doctors had suspected that about KK, they hadn’t diagnosis it or anything. The other thing is that she has to have an operation on her right leg,” Uncle Jesse was interrupted.

“Excuse me for interrupting you but did Doc tell you that it was a broken bone in her right ankle?” Luke asked.

“No, he just said it had to be operated on in order for her to walk.”

“Uncle Jesse, I ain’t trying to accuse anyone of anything, but I don’t think she broke it,” Luke stated. “What I think happened was that someone did it for her.”

“Abuse?”

“That’s what I’m thinking.”

By this point and time Daisy and Bo were lost. They were not told the gruesome story that went behind the death of KK’s mother and her now absent father.

“Wait a minute,” Bo interjected. “What do you mean abuse?”

Uncle Jesse knew that he needed to tell Bo and Daisy and even Luke about KK’s parents John and Peggy and his own brother Jackson. It wasn’t fair to them to hide the secrets about the so-called black sheep of the family. Jackson, in Uncle Jesse’s mind, was a misunderstood young man that never was corrected. John grew up to be just like his father growing up. Not giving a care in the world about anyone but himself. How he ever got married and stayed married was beyond Uncle Jesse. She must have felt that she could change him in some way but instead was killed. “Killed for what?”, he had thought to himself a few times during the week they waited for KK. He also thought about KK. Would John ever learn that KK was still alive? If he did learn, would he try to harm her? That was a chance that he was willing to take, but what about the kids? Would it be fair to put them in this situation?

by: KK Duke

Luke returned to the farm from Doc Appleby’s with what he had hope was good news. The only bad part was that the Roadrunner was home which meant that Daisy and Bo were bound to be home as well. What Luke didn’t see was Jesse’s truck. Luke thought that he was out in the back forty putting up new fence posts so he drove the car back there.

Luke got out of the car, leaving KK sleeping in the backseat. “Hi Luke. What did ya find out?” Uncle Jesse asked.

“Poor kid – she’s allergic to everything. You know that bedding she sleeps in?”

“Yeah the wool blanket that all of you guys used.”

“Well, she can’t use it. She’s allergic to it.”

Jesse looked in the General Lee at the sleeping KK. “Poor kid. I bet this nap is the best sleep she has gotten in a long while,” Uncle Jesse commented.

“Doc Appleby gave me a list of what she is allergic to that he was able to get from the doctors that had treated her before she moved here. He also stated that she needs to see him every week to get allergy shots.”

“Did you ask the Doc about the other things?”

“Yeah and he said to work with her and soon enough she would catch up. He also asked to see her again in a month after he had received her medical records.”

They were interrupted by Bo calling on the CB that Doc Appleby was on the phone for Uncle Jesse and that it was important for him to take this call.

“What else did the Doc say, Luke?”

“That was it. I don’t know why he would call you and say it was important.”

“Uncle Jesse, I’m going to take KK out for a little while,” Luke said.

“Luke – she needs lots of love and care in order for her to survive in this world. Whether she’s 18 months or 18 years – she’s has had a hard life and needs someone to count on just like you three guys do with me.”

Luke felt a sudden urge of pride creeping up in his chest. More pride than when he received his medals for a job well done during his stint in the Vietnam War. He could actually make a difference in someone’s life.

Uncle Jesse left in the pick in order to take the phone call from Doc Appleby. Luke returned to the General Lee to take KK on another tour of the county.

Once Jesse returned to the farmhouse, Bo announced that he and Daisy would go outside to prepare the fields for the spring planting so that Uncle Jesse would have some privacy.

“Hi Doc Appleby, what’s up?”

“Jesse, I didn’t want to say anything to Luke when I saw KK today. He’s so determine for her to talk and walk that I didn’t want to dash his hopes.”

“What are you trying to get at, Doc?”

“Jesse, there was more than allergies that the pediatrician gave me from Detroit about the three girls. KK is definitely different than the other two.”

“What is it, Doc?”

Jesse, the doctor noticed that in order for her to walk, she will need surgery on her right ankle in order to place a bone that should have been there in the first place.”

“Well, that’s not too bad,” Jesse though knew that wasn’t the worse news Doc had.

“Jesse, I don’t know how to tell this to you but they also believe that KK is autistic or minimally development delayed.”

Jesse felt like a rock had pelted him in the chest. She was a sweet baby girl and didn’t deserve to be locked inside of her own world.

“Doc, what should we do? Is there something we can do?”

“Encourage everyone to talk to her in order to stimulate her. The more you talk to her, the more of a chance she will talk. I will have to read more into what the best care is for her. Did Luke tell you that we need to see her every week in order for her to get an allergy shot.”

“Yes, Luke told me. Is it really necessary?”
“Yes. The shots will help her immune system out.”

“Thanks, Doc.”

Uncle Jesse hung up the phone. He didn’t know what to do. Should he tell Luke, Daisy and Bo what was going on or should he keep it to himself?

Luke stopped the car near Hazzard Pond. Looking in the back seat, he noticed that KK had woken up. “Hey you,” he commented to KK, “why didn’t you tell me you woke up?”

KK smiled.

Now only if he could turn that smile into some words. As if she knew exactly why she was there, KK suddenly said, “Luke,” and stretched out her arms. Luke couldn’t believe that he heard what he heard. Could it be possible that she just said his name? When Luke didn’t immediately do what she wanted him to do, KK said, “Up!”

“Yes, ma’am”

Being March, it was still too cold to go playing in the water, but a perfect place to help teach KK how to walk. Luke tried to get her on her feet but when she put weight on both legs she screamed in pain. Luke couldn’t understand what was exactly wrong at first. All he knew was that it hurt. He checked her left leg first and everything seemed to be okay. When he checked her right leg, his eyes brimmed with tears.

“Sweetheart,” Luke tried to calm not only her, but himself as well, “you’ve got a big boo-boo there don’t you.” KK looked up at him from the ground and nodded her head yes. “What happened to you?” Luke asked.

Luke recognized the struggle that went on in her head. She didn’t know how to tell him that her own father had broken the bone in the back part of the ankle to punish her when she had interrupted her parents one time. “KK, I promise that nothing will ever happen to you. I will protect you until the day I die and I’m believing that it won’t be for a long time.” Luke picked her up and rocked her in his arms until she fell asleep. He then gently put her back in the General and drove home.

by: KK Duke

Everyone had really thought it would be great to be able to hear the pitter-patter of little feet running through the farm house again. But after two weeks of constant crying all night, the three Duke children – Luke, Bo and Daisy were definitely having second guesses. KK never seemed to be able to calm down. All she would ever do was scream every time she was put down. It would take Uncle Jesse an hour or so to get her calm down and back to sleep only for her to wake up a few hours later and have to begin the cycle again.

Social Services called to see how the adjustment was going. Uncle Jesse wasn’t even too sure anymore if he could handle her. She didn’t speak yet, just grunted and groaned when she wanted something. Uncle Jesse was really wondering why he ever allowed Coy to do a little Duke schuckle and jive to have KK live here.

“Ma’am, as much as I love her, I don’t know what to do with her cryin’ all hours of the night?” Jesse Duke told the Social Worker.

“Well, it says on her record that she has had ear aches but her adenoids have been taken out.”

“Yes, I knew that. Do you have any suggestions on what it could be?”

“Is her throat red? Maybe it’s her tonsils?”

“No, ma’am. Her throat is fine. I think if it was her tonsils she wouldn’t be doing all this crying.”

“True. Um, now let me see…” The social worker paused as she ruffled some papers from KK’s file.

At this point, Uncle Jesse didn’t care what crazy idea she had, just something so that they could all get a good night’s sleep.

“Here’s probably the problem!”

“Hallelujah!” Uncle Jesse thought to himself.

“She probably is having some type of allergy attack. It states that it was suspected that she was allergic to many things, but we never received a report on what exactly.”

“So, how does one learn of what they’re allergic to?”
“She’ll probably need to see an allergy specialist to be tested.”

“Where is one?”

“I’m not familiar with Hazzard County, Georgia. I would recommend that you talk to her pediatrician in Hazzard. I’ll call back in a couple of weeks to see how it’s going.”

“Thank You, ma’am,” and Uncle Jesse hung up the phone.

Jesse could here Luke coming into the house. “Hi, Luke”

“Hi, Uncle Jesse”

“Hey there, little one,” he said to KK. “Were you able to talk to Social Services about our screaming problem?”

“Yes. Would you mind taking her to Doc Appleby’s?”

“No problem at all, but why?” Luke asked.

“The lady on the phone said that she has allergies. I’m guessin’ that she was tested prior but the results were never revealed. See what Doc can do for her.”

“Sure, no problem.” Turning his attention to KK, Luke asked, “Hey you! Wanna go for a ride?”

Still unable to talk, a big smile appeared across KK’s lips. “That’s another thing; see if you can figure out why she ain’t talking yet? Y’all were talking way before this age; I wonder what her hold up is.”

“They did say that she was behind most kids her age.”

“Yeah, but there has to be something that we can help her with.”

Beginning to get impatient, Luke could see that KK wanted to be picked up. “Heal those horses of yours, I’m not about to forget you.”

“Luke thanks for taking her. I know that Bo and Daisy are no longer particularly fond of her since she keeps them up all night. I just hope that we can figure out what her problem is so that she and all of us can get a good night’s sleep again,” Uncle Jesse stated.

“Yeah. I hear Bo’s complaining every night. I know that he loves her, but I think he’s also having a hard time adjusting to not being the youngest anymore.”

With that statement Luke and KK were off to Doc Appleby’s.

Luke took the General Lee slowly towards town. He was thankful that Roscoe was out of town and there wouldn’t be a chance of a chase. If anything would have happen to her, Uncle Jesse would never forgive him for it. It hurt him that his other two cousins were becoming annoyed with her. All of them were lucky enough to know that they were loved by their parents. KK never would know that. KK really didn’t have any family except for Aaron and Karen who lived with Ms. Zang. KK wasn’t trying to be a troublemaker; it was that she didn’t know how to express herself yet. Luke felt compelled to watch over her, show her the ropes of living in Hazzard.

“I wonder if this is what fatherhood is all about?” he thought to himself.

KK began to grunt and point, which Luke didn’t know if it was a good grunt or a bad grunt. He realized that what she saw were horses. “Those are horses. They’re pretty, ain’t they?”

She turned around and smiled at him again. Those were the smiles that melted his heart. She knew exactly what he meant. He just now had to figure out a way to help her learn how to express herself. The rest of the trip, Luke would tell her what she was looking at. The green grass, the cows, and the different roads they would take. She giggled, or what Luke believed was a giggle, when a heard of lambs had block the road they were on for a few minutes.

“Hello Luke. Ah, you must be the infamous KK,” Doc Appleby said.

KK gave Luke a look like, “Is he for real?”

Luke whispered in her ear, “Trust me, he’s knows what he’s doing.”

“Take her to the examining room and I’ll be right there.

“Thanks, Doc.”

KK came to the realization that she didn’t like this place. It reminded her of some place that she had been before. Somewhere that was cold…

Luke could tell by the way KK had gone stiffly in his arms that something was up. She suddenly was looking at her surroundings as fast as she could looking for an escape.

“Hey there little one, no one is going to hurt you,” Luke calmly told her while rubbing her back. He wondered if she was having a post-traumatic stress episode. Uncle Jesse had only told him, not Bo or Daisy, the gruesome details of what had happened. He was sure, even though she was only 18 months old, that the coldness of the examination room reminded her of death.

Luke could see the tears begin to form in her sad blue eyes. There wasn’t a need for words; he could see it in her face. She was scared and wanted her mommy. “I know, hunny, you’re not liking this too much. But I promise that nothing will happen to you. You’re safe now,” Luke told her as he got up and carried her around trying to console her. He could feel the warmth of her tears mounting on his right shoulder. There wasn’t a sound to her tears, only a sorrow that he understood about losing a parent.

KK had calm down enough to fall asleep as Luke slowly rocked on his heels trying to calm her down when Doc Appleby came back in.

Recognizing that she was asleep, Doc Appleby quietly said, “There’s good news and bad news. The good news is that we won’t have to repeat the allergy testing on her. I was able to request a copy of it from the doctor that performed it. The bad news is that kid is almost allergic to everything.”

“Poor kid. ‘Nother notch against her,” Luke commented more to himself, but Doc Appleby had heard it.

“Why’d you say that, Luke?”

“Because Bo and Daisy are beginning to turn against her. Wondering why they ever agreed to have her live with us. I think most of it has to do with that she and everyone else hasn’t slept through the night since she’s arrived.”

“Luke, I’m going to give you a copy of this and it needs to be followed by the letter. If she eats something or comes in contact with something she’s allergic to she could die. Granted, that’s the extreme end, but with not knowing how she’s affected by it, I wouldn’t want to push it. Also, I will need to see her every week to give her an allergy shot. This will help her body grow an immunity to what she’s allergic to. The ideal behind it is to help the body not hate it and therefore she could eat it or come in contact with it.”

Luke looked at the list that Doc Appleby gave him. As he skimmed through it, he recognized why she screamed in the middle of the night. Uncle Jesse used bedding of wool for KK’s bed and if he was reading the list right, she was extremely allergic to it.

“Doc, what can this kid eat?”

“Not much – mostly meat, potatoes and vegetables except corn, of course.”

“Can I ask you something else?”

“Sure, what is it Luke.”

“She’s 18 months old, almost 19 but yet she seems far behind a typical kid her age. Even her siblings are farther along. What can I do to help catch her up? She’s seems intelligence, but just lack the vocal. She also isn’t even trying to walk much less crawl. Shouldn’t she by this age?”

Doc Appleby began to explain that it would probably take time and work in order for her to start talking but eventually she would catch on. For the walking, he suggested for him to get her on her feet and try to encourage her to walk. She would get it eventually.

As Luke was walking out the door with KK in one hand and the list in the other, “I would like to see her in a month. By that time I should have her medical records and can give her any booster shots necessary.”

“Not a problem, doc,” Luke stated and walked out the door to take KK home.

What Doc Appleby didn’t tell Luke was the depressing news that he had received from her pediatrician from Michigan. That doctor believed that KK had autism and may never speak, let alone walk. Doc Appleby hoped that wasn’t the case, but hopefully Luke would be true to his word and stimulate her to talk and not grunt. In any case, Luke had a tall order to fulfill, but Doc Appleby had a suspicion that Luke wouldn’t allow KK to fail.