When Mr. Joe was 15 both his parents died within six months of each other. He was the youngest. There were three older brothers and a sister. Mr. Joe is 96, so, in those days, there was no “system.” Thankfully. They could stay together. The brothers went to work. The sister kept the house. They wanted Mr. Joe to stay in school. Get a high school diploma. It was important. To help out, Mr. Joe went hunting every day after school. Sometimes he would bring home a rabbit. Sometimes a few squirrels. One time, he was lucky enough to get an alligator. “I shit you not. That kept us in meat for a whole week.” Mr. Joe is the last one left. His sister died three years back. Mr. Joe says he thinks he will join them soon. He doesn’t hunt anymore. But sometimes his son will bring him some alligator sausage, and it will send him back to those days when a family would do anything to stay together.
