The House That Jacks Built
by
Roger Sheridan
Does Mr. Sheridan convey the feelings of the children of this family
toward their parents and especially their father. Were they knowledgeable about the family
background? This is a story of siblings that take one another and their parents for granted.
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.............an Excerpt...............
The small community buzzed like a
colony of angry bees, and the curt and aside remarks were stinging. Old man Coruthers, who had
settled in Fidelia some forty years ago, was dying. None of the townspeople knew exactly what was
wrong with him, but his children had been called home, so it must be something serious. If he did
die, there was the matter of the will he was worth plenty, and the bets were on as to who would get
the lion's share. The faithful wife and mother would receive her due, but the battle was on for the
real dough. There were four unscrupulous people matched against the cunning of the head teller, but
odds were with the old boy wisdom comes with age.
Kathy roared through the town
scarcely noticing the small business places and the people stopping to catch a glimpse of a society
matron. Fidelia was modern in a small-time way, but she preferred the larger places the big cities:
Chicago and New York. The oak trees lined the drive of the residential section up to the edge of
town, and from there, nature took over. Fall was beautiful, especially in the country and especially
this time of day, but Kathy saw none of the countryside; her thoughts were at Alcott, her home. She
wondered about her father's condition. The telegram said to come immediately. It was from Jobe.
How she despised her brother. It wasn't so much a hate as it was an envy of the way he did things
and got them done.
"Father is failing fast. Come at
once. Love, Jobe."
Love! she thought.
How wrong could a statement be? There's no love lost between Jobe and me and there hadn't
been any since my wedding. The way he acted would repulse.... Kathy became angry again
every time she thought of how Jobe insulted her husband, to say nothing of the many guests.
Forget it, she told herself. Jobe is who he is and he isn't worth half the
effort. She turned the stereo down.
The sun was low as the convertible
pulled up in the driveway. A few cars lined the drive. They belonged to her brothers. They were
wasting no time. She left her bags in the car and ran up the large steps and onto the porch, where
Drew met her at the door.
"Good evening, Miss Lee." He
lowered his head and started for the car.
"How's father?"
"About the same, Miss, not much
change."
She slipped off her gloves and
entered the front hall where Alec awaited her. His dark dinner suit contrasted with the light beige
walls, and the glass he held was even more out of place.
"Well, well, my little sister." He
stumbled with his words. "How are you, Sissie?"
"Alec, you know I detest that
name." He didn't hear her.
"Have you caught any big fish
lately, or do you still have the old one mounted?" He threw back his head and laughed, but she
controlled her temper. Brushing past him, she noticed Jobe in the library. As she started for the door,
Alec pushed himself in front of her. The rush of liquor was heavy on his breath.
"Sissie, aren't you going to kiss
your little brother? Just a little one?" His tie was ruffled, and he looked tired. He needed to shave
.
End of the Excerpt from The House That Jacks Built
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