The Private Journals of Isaiah Watts

Volume One

 

Copyright© 2020 – Nicholas Hall

 

Chapter Ten

The Early Years

 

"My life began to change the day after Grandfather Watt's remains were cremated and his ashes committed to their final resting place. Oh, I was still seven going on eight years old, slight of build, walked with a limp, almost too pretty to be a boy some thought, thought by others to be somewhat effeminate and not particularly ferocious, but to most people who heard of me, all things considered, someone to be wary of, especially if angered. After all, I was the little boy who bashed his grandfather's head in, splitting it like a ripe melon."

(The Private Journals of Isaiah Watts)

 

Gio ran down the road toward the Watt's farm upon hearing what happened! His Uncle Freddy was in Decker's Store when Zachary Watts called the County Sheriff. He drove home and told Agostino and Sabrina what he heard and knew. Gio didn't wait or ask for permission to leave, he just grabbed his jacket, baseball cap, and slingshot and took off down the road, running like a turpentined dog trying to escape the burning on his balls and tender asshole!

Breathless, he bounded up the steps of the Watt's house, onto the porch, and hammered on the door, desperate for admittance, and reassurance his new, lovely, boyfriend was unharmed. Dorothea answered the frantic pounding, saw Gio standing, his face anguished, and said, "He's fine, Gio, and is in the living room with his folks and brothers. I know he'd want to see you."

"Thanks, Mrs. Watts," Gio gulped in relief, forcing his tears back as best he could, and stepped into the living room. Isaiah was sitting, head down looking at the floor, between his mother and dad. Claire was holding baby Gideon to her breast allowing the boy to lustily, noisily, nurse. Jerome and Thomas were seated on the floor staring at their older brother.

Gio locked his gaze on Gideon, lips locked on a tit, and thought to himself, "Doesn't that kid do anything but suck tits?"

Clair announced his presence softly and tapped Isaiah on the arm. "Isaiah, Gio's here!"

Isaiah's head popped up, with tear filled eyes spotted Gio, and said thankfully, "I knew you'd come once you heard!"

"Please sit, Gio," Claire invited, standing to sit on a nearby chair.

Gio scooted up as close to Isaiah as he could without laying on top of him, which he really wanted to do but thought it might not be wise to do so, looked around, decided "fuck it," and clasped Isaiah's hand in his own and held it to his face.

"You okay, Isaiah?"

"Yeah."

"What happened?"

Isaiah leaned closer, his lips touching Gio's ear, causing Gio's young cock to harden and throb, whispering, "He tried to fuck me, Gio!"

Softly Gio swore, disgusted, and angry; "That dirty son-of-a-bitch!" and quickly apologized to Claire and Dorothea fearful they may've heard him. If they did, they made no comment.

"What now?"

"We wait for the sheriff and coroner to talk to me."

"Is the body, you know," Gio asked pointing out toward the farm yard, "outside?"

"Yeah, in the hog yard. Uncle Zachary and Uncle Joseph are guarding it."

"Can I go look?"

"Suppose so."

"Want to come along?"

"Nope!"

"Didn't think so, but thought I'd ask."

Gio excused himself, darted outside, peeked over the fence at Neville's half nude body laying face up. He heard vehicles drive up, looked and saw two sheriff's cars and another with "CORONOR" on the side stop. He hotfooted it back to the house, not wanting to talk to any law unless he had to. In the house he reseated himself next to Isaiah.

"Sheriff's here," he announced. Leaning over this time so his lips brushed Isaiah's soft ears, he whispered, "I saw the body; his cock and balls are gone!"

"Pigs!"

"They'll eat anything, won't they, Isaiah?"

Isaiah just nodded and grinned. "Serves him right!"

 

The sheriff, his deputy, and the coroner sat in the living room questioning Isaiah and Claire, with an occasional question tossed at Joshua and Dorothea. Isaiah's narrative describing the events, sequenced from the time he heard a noise outside to the delivery of the fatal blow to Neville's skull was precise, detailed, and very persuasive! He accurately quoted Neville's words and threats without wavering under questioning. Isaiah was detached, cold, calculating, and relatively impersonal in his testimony, leaving little doubt of the accuracy and truthfulness of his words and memory. His description of the blows he delivered to his grandfather's skull, even to the sound he thought it made, caused all three of his questioners to cringe and swallow, vivid images of a shattering skull splaying blood and tissue all over, caused by a seven-year-old boy.

The only part Isaiah failed to describe was his part in pushing his grandfather over the fence into the hog yard. All he said was, "After the second smack to his head, he toppled over the fence and into the hog yard." Dorothea, Joshua, and Claire all collaborated his statement.

"Why don't we wander out to the yard so you can show me exactly where he was and where you were, Isaiah?" the sheriff asked.

Isaiah was more than willing to oblige, walking the sheriff, the deputy, and the coroner step by step, repeating the testimony he'd given inside the house. The sheriff casually put his arm around Isaiah in order to offer comfort and support to him. Joshua was trotting behind.

Isaiah didn't mind. The sheriff didn't wear a uniform, instead dressed up in slacks and a sport coat jacket. His badge was on his belt, as was his pistol. The sheriff believed it gave him a more "homie" look, you know, made him one of the bunch so to speak, and easier to be elected.

Gio stayed several paces behind the party, watching Isaiah and Joshua at first, concern for Isaiah and then curiosity. Something just didn't seem right, but he wasn't certain what! Isaiah was entirely too comfortable, relaxed with the sheriff, sort of leaning into him.

The small group of people reached the hog pen where the fatal blows were delivered and as Isaiah prepared to describe and demonstrate how he walloped Neville on the head, Claire decided it was time to let Gideon have a go at the other teat. As she shifted him, baring a breast so he could nourish his hunger, she inadvertently exposed both of her plump breasts. Isaiah's narrative took second place and was momentarily forgotten as the three inquisitor's attention was focused on her and her revealed, very distracting bare and exposed parts.

Gio wasn't interested in seeing her tits again. Women's boobs just didn't do it for him; boy's cocks, yeah, but not boobs! That's when he saw it!

Attention diverted, Gio saw Isaiah's hand slip easily and quickly into the sheriff's pocket, extract a wallet, and do a quick hand off to Joshua who'd stepped closer to the sheriff's back. Just as quickly, Joshua pulled several bills from the wallet, handed it back to Isaiah and stepped in front of the sheriff while Isaiah slipped the wallet back from whence it came. It happened swiftly, deftly, and no one was the wiser!

He spotted Joshua walk from in front of the sheriff, to David, who took the boy's hand into his own, said something to him, giving every indication he was comforting his son. Joshua released his hand from David's and returned to his post behind the sheriff. David slipped his own hand into a pocket just as naturally as one would expect!

Breast now covered, the distraction put to rest, so to speak, Isaiah was encouraged to continue by the sheriff. The questioning was coming to a close, the sheriff was leaning over the fence, and Joshua squeezed between the sheriff and the hog yard fence, leaning over for another look at the corpse. He asked the sheriff something, received an answer and slithered back down. Gio saw this too and wondered what else the sheriff was missing.

It made no difference to him, their secret was safe with him. After all he had secrets of his own.

The sheriff, the deputy, the coroner, and the county attorney all agreed the death of Neville Watts, was brought on by Isaiah Watts, his grandson, when Neville attempted to rape both Isaiah and his mother, Claire Watts. The boy was acting in self-defense and his actions were "justifiable homicide." No charges were filed.

Isaiah experienced a number of revelations as a result of his encounter with Neville. His knife, the one he'd use to stick somebody and not the jackknife he carried in his front pocket, was now secreted in a sheath secured around his middle with a narrow belt under his overalls; he became earnest, practicing throwing the sticker knife, deciding to be better than his dad with the knife, and; continued practicing his talents as a "dipper" working to become better than even his mother. Joshua was also learning well from her and Isaiah was determined someday they'd be the best there was. Any doubt which may have existed in his mind was gone concerning taking the fight to the aggressor and fighting to win. In his mind now, fight with all you have and with the unexpected, to win.

He'd gain much from the experience as he moved through life, especially his pre-adult years. Adults in the Decker's Corner community came to regard him with a certain degree of respect and some fear; his peers saw him as someone to be admired, respected, cautious around, and definitely someone not to fuck with even though he was small and had a limp. Isaiah's demeanor became one of quiet, silent authority, and strange as it may seem, trust and compassion for those less fortunate or being set upon. He'd use all of this to his advantage throughout life in his confrontation or interaction with others.

The sheriff didn't gain much from the incident; in fact, somewhere along the way, he lost forty dollars and his badge. Where, he knew not, only it had been a very busy day so it could have been anywhere.

Neville Watts not only lost his life but his cock and balls as well.

Oh, well!

***

Chapter Eleven

The Early Years

"Daddy bought the two farms cheaper than he thought he would and my uncles and their families moved in with us until their houses were fixed up proper. My cousins, and there was a shit-load of them it seems, were Stephen age 7, Patrick age 6, Arthur age 4, Samuel age 2, all belonging to Uncle Benjamin, and Jonathon age 5, Adam age 4, and Jeremy age 2, all belonging to Uncle Darius. Not a female in the bunch. I learned a male burro (donkey) has a massive cock and Cousin Stephen was relieved to find out a milk cow doesn't have four cocks."

(The Private Journals of Isaiah Watts)

 

David was able to purchase the two farms and gain immediate possession for far less than he anticipated spending. In fact, the purchases were made for the amount he intended for the down payment. During their negotiations with the banker, David noticed some uneasiness, urgency, and anxiousness on the part of the banker to complete the deal as rapidly as possible.

David made his money horse trading and was damn good at it! He made even more from his con games, those games of chance, by using people's weaknesses, hopes and desires, and gullibility and creed, to his advantage and their losses. He used the same observations and techniques when dealing with the banker. The banker wanted the deal done and when he learned David had cash money, wanted it even more so. It took most of the day, but the three of them left the bank with David owning the farms and livestock, equipment, and household furnishings from another; all paid for, cash on the barrelhead. The banker was almost ecstatic enough to piss his pants but he didn't! David also picked up on several other properties which might be for sale if the economy continued to falter and plunge.

Deed and bills of sales in the safe, he sat down the evening of Isaiah's heroic deed, and strategized the way forward with Joseph and Zachary. He trusted their judgement and insight, knowing they'd been in the area longer than he in recent years. The first thing in the morning, they needed to move the livestock and equipment he'd purchased to the home place. There were two teams of work horses, two riding horses, four cows, about three dozen chickens (and four broods of chicks), eight hogs (four sows with piglets), and three burros (a jack, a jenny, and a colt) along with a donkey cart. There were four wagons, two hayracks, a corn planter, an oat drill planter, two two-row corn pickers, a couple of hay rakes, disc and plow cultivators, two two-bottom plows, and two sickle bar hay cutters, along with sundry other pieces of equipment, tack, and other items. They figured it'd take a couple of days to move everything.

Once done, they'd plow fields preparing for corn and oats planting along with plowing large gardens at each of the new farms. The small orchards at each farm were in good shape so there was no concern there. Joseph would look over the equipment and buildings, deciding what repairs, if any, were needed, while David and Zachary would undertake the field preparation and planting. There was still time to get crops in. The gardens could be planted when their brothers and their families arrived. The three brothers would have to hump their asses since the hay crop was maturing and ready for its first cutting.

When their brothers arrived, Joseph and Zach, along with Isaiah, Joshua, and Thomas would sleep in the caravan parked near the front yard. Ben and his wife and four boys would have Isaiah's room and Darius, his wife, and three boys would have Joseph's and Zach's room. All of this until their own houses were ready to live in. David didn't know Ben or Darius's wives and could but hope they'd be content with the living arrangement and then their new homes. He was assured by Dorothea there's be no problem.

Ben and Darius and their families arrived the same day, each automobile pulling a fully loaded, canvas covered, two-wheel trailer. Instead of the two weeks David anticipated, it wasn't quite a week. It was the same day David was cutting hay on the home place, Joseph and Zachary were plowing and planting corn fields at the other farms, and the day the bank in Logansport closed.

Joshua and Isaiah were standing at the corral, discussing the pair of burros and colt their dad purchased. The boys had yet to harness one of them to the donkey cart. David thought it wiser to let the critters become accustomed to their new home first. The donkey cart would only accommodate one critter to pull it, so if the Jenny (Ida) was hitched, the colt (Peanuts), would run free alongside. The Jack (Brutus) would stay in the corral.

"Sometimes male burros, like horses," David cautioned, "tend to want to mount everything in sight when they smell a female in heat. Makes it difficult sometimes to control them when they're in harness."

Watching, observing the burros in the corral, Isaiah and Joshua could well see why.

"I think Uncle Zachary is bigger," Joshua said reflectively, matter-of-factly to Isaiah.

Isaiah squinted, tilted his what to get a better perspective of what was visible in front of him. "Nah," he replied thoughtfully, "Brutus has him by a couple of inches," looking intently at the long cock hanging down between the burro's hind legs. On the small critter, they both admitted it did look humongous. Isaiah shuddered at the fleeting thought of something like that going up his butt and vowed to stay away from Brutus if the burro was acting horny.

"Think so?" Joshua asked.

There was no opportunity for Isaiah to comment as both boys turned at the sound of automobiles coming down the lane to the house and stopped in front of it. They watched as their uncles and aunts and all seven cousins unloaded; relatives they'd never met or really knew anything about.

Dorothea, hearing the vehicles drive up, scurried from the house, arms open, shouting her delight at the arrival of her son's families. Claire watched from inside where Jerome and Gideon were napping, deciding to wait to greet her newly arrived in-laws and nephews. She was uncertain how it'd all work out. Granted she was used to large gatherings when she and David, along with the boys, lived with her family in the band, but this was different. It'd take some getting used to for her sons, especially Isaiah and Joshua.

Joshua and Isaiah watched the gathering in the yard as their grandmother hugged and kissed each one, overjoyed at having all of her family, plus their families, home with her once more. Neither Benjamin nor Darius had been home since they left. It was just too unsafe with Neville on the rampage! They weren't aware of his death at this point, but had no choice but to move home. Without jobs and rent to pay, they needed a place to live and means to feed their families. In her last letter to them, she assured them with David home, there'd be no worry from Neville and there'd be plenty of room and food for all. Ben and Darius weren't certain how, but they did have confidence in their older brother. As far as David's family, neither of them had met his wife or his boys. They only were familiar with them through their mother's letters.

Isaiah cast a critical, guarded eye at the assembled group, pondering his new relatives. He was used to living with large groups of people when living with Grandma and Grandpa Lovell, but this was going to be different. Before moving here, they lived among their people, but these new relatives were "ga-je" white or non-Roma people he thought. A couple of the boys seemed to be about his age or younger, possibly Joshua's age, the other younger yet. He wondered how his life and the life of his brothers would change. Their own customs, language, and life styles, including the employment of his own skills, were different he assumed from his newly arrived relatives. He wondered how they'd accept his relationship with Gio and vowed if they didn't that was their problem. Isaiah also smiled wondering how they'd treat him once they discovered he was the one that bashed their grandfather in the head and killed him. "Probably be damned careful they don't piss me off," he thought.

"Could be different around here," he murmured softly, causing Joshua to ask what he said. Isaiah just acknowledged to him it'd be different and take some getting used to.

There was a change in the conversation among their grandmother and their uncles. It became quieter, less jubilant, but not subdued. Isaiah smiled to himself again; he'd bet his grandmother just told them Grandfather Watts was dead. His conjecture was confirmed when he heard one of his uncles comment loudly, "It's about time!"

David happened to come in from the field to exchange the sickle-bar cutter he'd been using to cut hay for a hay rake to curl the downed hay into windrows to dry. He quickly tethered the team when he saw the vehicles and the people gathered around his mother and raced to greet his brothers.

"Isaiah," he shouted seeing his sons standing observing the goings on, "go fetch your Momma."

Claire emerged with Thomas when Isaiah came for her, leaving her two youngest napping, and joined David as he began introducing her to Ben and Anne and Darius and Carol. He motioned Isaiah, Joshua, and Thomas to come forward and meet their new cousins. The three of them shyly, quietly introduced themselves but offered no more than their names, guarded in their responses, not wanting to share any more than necessary with these "ga-je."

Benjamin's wife's name was Anne their boys were Stephen, age seven; Patrick, age 6; Arthur, age four, and Samuel, age three. Darius's wife's name was Carol and their boys' names were Jonathon, age six; Adam, age four, and; Jeremy age two.

Isaiah figured it'd take a couple of days before he really knew his cousin's names and begin calling the adults "uncle" and "aunt," but it'd happen. It'd take some time also for the cousins to really become acquainted and comfortable in their new relationship. Living arrangements would be temporary but crowded.

He gave Joshua a nudge, took Thomas by the hand, and headed toward the house.

"What're we doing?" Joshua asked as they trudged up the stairs to their room.

"Moving our stuff to the caravan."

"Where will we put things?"

"Where they were before we moved here," was Isaiah's resigned reply.

In three quiet trips, unnoticed by the adults still in the yard visiting, they moved their belongings to the caravan, including blankets and pillows.

"What are they going to use now for blankets and pillows?" Joshua asked.

"That's their problem, not mine!" Isaiah responded emphatically, concerned only for the welfare of his brothers.

David spotted his sons coming from the caravan, walked toward them, seeking to know what was going on.

"Moving!" was all Isaiah replied.

It was evident to David his two oldest sons might have some problems adjusting to the change in the family! They didn't seem pleased with the arrangement, but these were hard times and family took care of family. The boys would just have to adjust.

He glanced at his pocket watch, noting it'd be another hour or so before Joseph and Zachary would be home from the other farms.

Dorothea was leading the family toward the house so David suggested to Isaiah and Joshua they get a jump on chores; Thomas was sent to the house to help Claire since she'd need him to watch over Jerome and Gideon as she helped Dorothea prepare the evening meal. With eleven more to feed, it'd take some time for preparation and cooking.

David, Isaiah, and Joshua fed the hogs, the newly added sows and pigs separated from their own to keep fighting to a minimum; fed and watered the chickens and gathered the eggs, the new flock mixed in with theirs. The eggs were taken to the house by Joshua.

The cows were brought in for milking. There were enough stanchions in the small barn to accommodate all six cows. David and Isaiah filled the water buckets and put a mix of hay, corn, and oats in front of each cow so they'd be content eating and drinking while being milked. Their udders were full, hanging in large, vein laced bags beneath their somewhat ponderous bodies. Isaiah looked small and vulnerable as he squatted on a milk stool, bucket between his legs, beneath the cow he began to milk. The cow was calm, letting down her milk for his young, but increasingly experienced touch. Six cows would take some time to milk even as David milked one and Isaiah the other.

Darius and Benjamin, alerted by Joshua bringing in the eggs, chores had started and decided to join David in the barn. Trotting behind them, as they walked to the barn were Stephen, Patrick, and Jonathon curious to see what was happening and what "chores" were. Joshua walked several steps behind the others, guarded, observing, trying to judge the intent and worth of his new cousins and uncles. He wasn't altogether certain he was going to like having them around, but Isaiah told him it'd all work out eventually. It was the fact they were "ga-je" seemed to be causing him the problems. They never lived in the white world or near it before moving to Grandma Watt's, now their father's, if he heard right, farm.

The group entered the barn, causing some restlessness with the cows as strangers entered, rolling their eyes, and tipping their heads. Soft, soothing words from David and Isaiah seemed to calm them somewhat, but David did caution the newcomers to move slowly in approaching so not to cause any additional fright. Isaiah looked over his shoulder and heard his cousin Stephen ask Uncle Ben what they were doing and was told Isaiah and Uncle David were milking the cows. Stephen nodded his head, sort of gripped his crotch, evidently relieved cows didn't have four cocks, once his dad explained the teats were where young calves nursed like his mother when she used to nurse Samuel.

David finished the cow he was milking, dumped the bucket of milk in a metal milk can, tapped the lid down to keep the milk free from contamination, and moved to another cow.

"Joshua," he asked, "put her," pointing to the one he finished, "out to pasture if she's done drinking and eating."

Joshua scooted around his uncles and cousins to do as he was told, releasing the cow from her stanchion, and with the confidence of a boy used to big animals, with a slight smack on the cow's backside, sent her out into the cow yard and pasture.

"I'm afraid this is all new to our families," Ben said, addressing David. "The boys don't have a clue what to do or what happens."

"Then you and Darius will have to teach them," David replied laughing and stepping away from the cow he was just starting to milk. "Still know how to milk a cow?"

"I hope so," grinned Ben and took David's place.

Isaiah was finished with his, Joshua scooted it outside, and was moving toward another, but Darius announced he'd do this one. Both men gave waves to their sons to join them and see how it was done, while David and Isaiah got clean buckets and moved to the final two cows. As they milked and the others watched, David informed his brothers of the purchases he made for their farms. They'd each have two cows, four hogs, a dozen and a half chickens, a team of work horses, and a riding horse. Additionally, there were wagons and various pieces of farm equipment.

"If we work together, sharing equipment, plowing, planting, and harvesting," he said, "we should be okay. I don't think this economy is going to get better anytime soon, so we'll have to raise our own food and take care of ourselves. The houses will take some work, but Joseph made certain the windmills worked and the wells are good. We can pitch in, amidst the field work, and work together on the houses."

David hesitated, each hand holding a cow tit, "I don't know your wives, but can they handle farm life and the tough work that goes with it? You know this isn't the same as the city and Decker's Corner is certainly a different place to live, although we did."

"Oh, I think they can," Darius answered.

Their wives were sisters and grew up on a farm. Carol was two years younger than Anne. Anne was just fifteen when she married Ben and Carol barely fourteen when she married Darius.

"We married them young," Ben mused.

"So did I," David admitted.

His brothers met their wives through Jeffrey Butler, an older brother to the girls, who worked with Ben. He introduced Ben to Anne and when Darius left home to join his brother, he was introduced to Carol. Their wives were actually happy to leave the city, apparently missing farm life.

Addressing his nephews, David advised, "If you boys follow Isaiah and Joshua around, it won't take you long to pick up on doing chores and helping around a farm. My boys are a big help to Grandma, their Momma, and me. Uncle Joseph and Uncle Zachary rely on them as well. It makes life easier if we all pitch in."

"Oh, great," Joshua murmured to Isaiah in Romany, "now we'll have them underfoot, snooping around, and who knows what else."

Isaiah looked around, noticing his dad was the only one who seemed to understand what Joshua said. His cousins not knowing the language would give Joshua and him an advantage.

"Well, we just have to be careful around these ga-je cousins of ours," he responded. "They don't have to know everything we do."

"Speak English, boys," David admonished. "it's impolite! I learned when living with Uncle Abram and Aunt Rose, Grandma came from a Roma family. I didn't know that when I lived at home. She didn't use the language or practice their ways while we lived at home. The first I ever heard her speak a full sentence in Roma was when we moved here. She didn't teach us the language like your Momma and Grandma and Grandpa Lovell did you boys."

David apologized to his brothers telling them somewhat of the life they lived before coming to the farm; how he discovered his heritage and history, how his family spoke Roma almost exclusively except when dealing with the "ga-je" or non-Roma people, and some of the nomadic ways of the Lovell Family.

"I told the boys to speak English."

"I thought I recognized a couple of phrases," Ben noted, "Momma used to use."

"Well, anyway, brothers, that's your heritage and race. How you explain it to your children and wives is up to you, but you'll see it every day around us."

"I think we all have a lot to learn about each other and life in general," Ben said contemplatively.

****

Chapter Twelve

The Growing-up Years

 

"The short time Uncle Ben and Uncle Darius and their families lived with us were interesting to say the least. My uncles and aunts got a short course from Grandma Watts on our family history, cousin Stephen found out it was okay to piss outside, learned what a "gaje" is, discovered Gio spoke three languages, and the Watts boys heard from Gio all about Walter the Goat Fucker."

(The Private Journals of Isaiah Watts)

 

 

Isaiah and Joshua helped David clean up after milking while Darius and Benjamin carried the full milk cans to the spring house to cool and stay fresh.

"I think it's best we keep our own family secrets, secret, boys," David advised his sons. "Don't want someone, even family, saying the wrong thing when it shouldn't be said at all. Okay?"

Both boys understood very well what their father was talking about and agreed. They'd make certain the younger ones understood as well. Thomas was the only one who had any inkling since he was in the beginning stages of learning the family trade from his mother. Joshua was beyond the beginning stage and quite capable. Over the years, however, no matter how hard they tried, they never quite reached the level of expertise and skill Isaiah had. Oh, they were good, damned good, but Isaiah was better!

Repairs progressed on the farms Ben and Darius were to occupy, the gardens planted, and crops put in, along with cutting and stacking hay for winter forage on those farms as well at the home place. Grandma Watts kept tabs on the various household sales and foreclosure auctions in the area so David and his brothers could make periodic trips to furnish the two homes. David did find a gasoline engine powered washing machine they put on the porch at Grandma Watts. It made for easier laundry days.

Only once did Ben and Darius ask how David could afford everything. He answered, "Saved the money I made while horse trading." He didn't mention his games of chance or the lucrative business Claire, Isaiah, and Joshua engaged in. He received the money from the sale of the necklace Agostino sold for him. Agostino was unable to get gold coin so he settled for paper money. The money David received was over three times what he paid for both farms and equipment.

There was no spring house at either of the new farms, but milk houses with concrete tanks filled with water from the well to temporarily keep milk cold. The tank was filled when the windmill worked and water was diverted to it. As it overflowed, the water drained out to stock tanks, filling them as well. Joseph worked on the windmills to make certain they were operating properly.

During the several weeks before Ben and Darius and their families moved into their new homes, amidst all of the planting, cutting hay, chores, and remodeling, Ben, Ann, Darius, and Carol spent some time learning the Watts and Turner Family history from Dorothea and David. As Dorothea told them, just as David did, how they informed their own children was up to them, but at some time or another, someone would either outright tell them or bully them because of their heritage.

"Or," she said quietly, "you can just ignore or deny your heritage as I did for many years while married to your father; whatever makes you most comfortable."

David taught Isaiah and Joshua how to harness up a burro to the donkey cart and drive it. Working around animals was second nature to the two boys since while living with Grandpa and Grandma Lovell, they were around horses all of the time. Learning how to manage a burro pulling a cart was no problem. They preferred using Ida rather than Brutus since she wasn't as easily distracted as he was. Stephen was just as interested, although with little experience around animals, was hesitant to try his hand at it, watching and observing closely instead. David assumed, and rightly so, it wouldn't be long until Isaiah taught Stephen and Patrick how to manage a team or a single burro.

Receiving permission from their parents, after assuring them their chores were done, the four boys (Isaiah, Joshua, Stephen, and Patrick), ensconced in the donkey cart, Ida harnessed up and Peanut frolicking by her side, and Isaiah handling the reins, set out down the lane and the county road the short distance to Gio's house. Gio was gone for a week with his Uncle Freddy and Isaiah was anxious to see him now he was back home.

Stephen asked, while hooking up Ida to the cart, why Isaiah harnessed her instead of Brutus.

"See Brutus?" Isaiah asked.

"Yeah."

"See that long stiff cock hanging down from him?" Isaiah pointed at Brutus's male appendage.

Stephen swallowed, noting the size and length of the burro's penis. "It's big!"

"Got that right! Sometimes he decides he wants to fuck and it makes it hard to handle him."

Patrick's mouth opened, his eyes widened, amazed at the daring of his cousin, hearing him use the word "fuck." They didn't dare use words like that around the house. Soap tasted terrible!

"Be careful," Joshua said mischievously, with a glint in his eyes, to Stephen and Patrick, "don't bend over in the corral when Brutus has that monstrosity hanging down and ready for business, or bingo," illustrating the effect by fisting his hand and making a shoving motion up with his arm, "up the old poop chute it goes."

Isaiah couldn't be certain but he thought he saw a shudder of fear wiggle through Stephen! Patrick, on the other hand, just squinted his eyes shut, silently vowing not to be anywhere near Brutus. He could just imagine the damage such a thing could do to his little boy butt. They were having a difficult time using the outhouse, being used to indoor plumbing, after Joshua told them sometimes there were spiders down in the hole. "Never saw any rats however, so no need to worry about them biting your balls or pecker."

Both boys peered judiciously and cautiously down the hole before sitting to shit!

While helping Isaiah harness up Ida, Stephen kept a close eye on Brutus, wary of getting too close to him. Patrick opted to help Joshua fill up a feed bag with oats and corn and put an empty water bucket in the cart so Ida and Peanut could drink. "Have to keep good care of them," Joshua said, "Daddy says they're what we use to make a living and help us; besides they're fun to have around. Saves walking."

Trotting along, Ida seeming anxious to get out and move, Stephen commented, "I bet Arthur, Jonathon, and Adam would enjoy this. They've never ridden in a cart like this before."

"Yeah, just like us," Patrick giggled, thoroughly enjoying himself.

"So, how did you guys get around?" Isaiah asked, pulling back on the reins slightly to slow Ida down.

"Usually by Daddy's car," answered Stephen, "or if went downtown, usually with Momma since she wouldn't think of us going alone, by street car."

"How about school?"

"It was close enough we could walk."

"We've never been to a real school," Joshua confessed, "but we'll go to one this fall."

"So," Stephen asked cautiously, wanting to pursue the subject, "you still read and write and all don't you?"

"Yeah," Joshua answered, "Momma, Daddy, Grandma and Grandpa Lovell taught us. All of the kids in our camp had to go to classes every day. We had to be able to read, write, and do arithmetic Grandma Lovell said, if we were going to survive in the `gaje' world."

"Watch it, Joshua," Isaiah advised. "Don't say too much."

"Okay, what'd you say, Isaiah?" Stephen asked exasperated and somewhat angry since he had idea what his cousin said, upsetting him. "And what's this `gaje' you talk about and call us?"

Ida slowed down to a leisurely pace, but it wouldn't be long until they were at Gio's. Isaiah decided he had time enough to give his cousins a short lesson explaining to them, some of the life they were raised in, the Lovell Band, and the `gaje' were non-gypsies, usually white people.

"Our people have been murdered, driven from our homes, had the shit beat out of them, and sent into exile for centuries. We have to be especially careful outside our own bands and people or we could get our ass in a jam, especially around some white people."

"You speak a different language sometimes."

Isaiah nodded, "Mashkar le gadjende leski shib si le Romeski Zor."

"Surrounded by the Gaje, the Rom's only defense is his tongue."

It was quiet in the cart, the only noise was the clip, clop, clip, clop of Ida's hoofs as she walked down the road and an occasional nicker from Peanut. Stephen pondered his next question carefully, wanting to know, yet really not wanting to know the answer.

"Are we gypsy?"

Oh boy, thought Isaiah hesitating to answer the question. Nobody said anything to them.

He pulled on the reins, stopping Ida and the cart in front of Gio's house. "That's something you'd have to ask your mom and dad."

Gio bounded out of the house shouting his greetings to Isaiah and the others. As he approached the cart, Ida whinnied at him, begging for a treat. He reached in his pocket, extracted a carrot and fed her. Peanut nudged his pocket seeking a treat as well.

"Watch what you're nosing, Peanut," Gio scolded and reached in his pocket and offered the colt a sugar cube. When Peanut begged for another, Gio extended his hands, palm up, saying, "That's it, no more."

"Isaiah," he said, looking up in the cart, smiling, almost giddy with seeing Isaiah. "Grandma wanted me to make a delivery before you came. Could we do it now?"

"Where to?"

"Up the road about two miles to Mrs. Lorenz. Grandma says her youngest son usually sends her money every month to help out, but he's out of work and she needs some help."

"I'll water Ida and Peanut while you get what we have to deliver," Isaiah announced, motioning Joshua to jump down and help Gio.

Gio was particularly careful about his greeting and show of affection for Isaiah. He'd met the new relatives living with Isaiah and understood they'd be moving in a short while once the other farms were ready, but he was uncertain about their attitude toward boys loving boys and accepting him.

To him, they appeared to be unfamiliar, unacquainted with country life and small towns in general. Somewhat innocent in the way others, especially boys like Isaiah and him, and uncorrupted by the darker sides of life, sheltered from the "wickedness" of the world, unlike most boys and girls in Decker's Corner who not only knew the wickedness, but were active participants in most of the various types. Living in Decker's Corner was really going to be different for them; they'd lose their gullibility rather quickly he hoped. They'd have to get used to this life if they wanted to survive in it.

Hearing this Mrs. Lorenz's son was without work was familiar sounds to Stephen and Patrick. They understood quite well what it meant to be without work and without money. Both overheard their parents discussing what they'd do to provide food and shelter for their boys. When Grandma Watt's letters arrived inviting them to come to her place to live, it was a god-send, according to their mom and dad. Little did Stephen and Patrick realize how changed their lives would be.

She'd also invited their Uncle Darius to live with them as well.

It was decided by the two brothers and their wives the option of living back home would be the best alternative, given there were few other options. The farm and river would provide enough for them to live, even though the living arrangements might be a bit crowded. Their discussion and journey took place before they knew their oldest brother purchased two more small farms with the intention of providing a house and property for them to use. He certainly adhered to the notion and belief in Decker's Corner you not only took care of your own but each other as well.

Stephen and Patrick were aware of the seriousness of their situation and how fortunate they were to have an older uncle who really cared. No way would they do or say something which might just screw it all up, even if they both were a little uncertain about some things they saw or heard, even if it seemed strange, totally wrong, or wickedly naughty. Nope, better to keep their mouths shut and hold things secret. They were wise, schooled by their father to keep their own counsel, as they were to discover, most Watt's boys did as well. They now lived in a different world, a world of the strange and unfamiliar customs and living conditions, unlike the life they led before everything went to shit!

Gio and Joshua returned with two filled wooden peach crates and handed them up to Isiah. Sabrina Russo, standing on the porch, shouted out in German, "Gio, make certain her wood box is filled near the cook stove and tell her if she needs anything else to let me know!"

"Okay, Grandma." Gio replied.

From the side of the house, Agostino, talking Italian, raising his voice, said, "Tell Isaiah to let his dad know the items he ordered are here waiting for him to pick up."

"Okay, Grandpa!" Gio returned in Italian.

Stephen and Patrick looked at each other in disbelief, amazed and confused with brows furrowed, trepidation showing in their eyes when their cousin's friend answered in two different languages. Were they the only ones who spoke just English? Perhaps this place was even going to be more different than they imagined to begin with.

"What languages were you speaking?" Stephen asked.

"Italian and German," Gio responded. "Grandma is German and Grandpa is Italian so I learned to speak both."

Changing the subject, Isaiah asked, "What's in the boxes?"

Gio peered in each and ticked off the contents. There were two loaves of fresh baked break, a pint of honey from Sabrina's hives, a slab of bacon weighing about three pounds or so he thought, three pints of green beans from last year's crop, small paper bag of new peas, a jar of strawberry jam, two dozen eggs, a small crock of butter, a small bunch of fresh green onions from the garden, small bunch of asparagus, jar of grape jelly, a rhubarb pie, and a bottle of Agostino's grape wine.

"You know," he said sadly, "she's really got nothing; no family close by. Grandma hopes her son will move home to help take care of her."

As an afterthought, "We have to check and make sure she has ice in her ice box. If not, Uncle Freddy will take some up from our ice house."

Ice boxes were new to Stephen and Patrick, although not uncommon in parts of the city they used to live in. They were fortunate to have an electric refrigerator (and electric lights) until they were forced to move for lack of a job and money. There were other things they lacked in Decker's Corner at Grandma Watts farm, but they were adapting to this different life.

"I have to pee," announced Patrick.

"Me too," echoed Stephen.

Isaiah reined Ida to a halt on the road, turned to his cousins; "You can either stand up and pee over the side of the cart or climb down and pee alongside the road."

"Here? On the road?' squeaked Patrick.

"Yep! Anybody else?"

Only Gio decided his bladder was full or maybe he might get a peek at what sort of tackle Stephen and Patrick had tucked away in their britches. He stood near the cart, his pecker pointing toward the side of the road while Stephen and Patrick, backs to the rest of their traveling companions, stood on the side of the road, unleashing yellow streams into the weeds.

"Want me to hold them for you?" volunteered Gio, feigning seriousness, anxious to see their reaction.

"NO!" Stephen and Patrick shouted, their heads jerking to look over their shoulders trying to ascertain whether Gio was heading their way intent on grabbing their peckers. Concerned with their modesty and protecting their boy cocks, they both hunched their shoulders farther forward, gripped their cocks protectively, and finished their business as quickly as possible. There was no danger of him making a lunge for them, by the time they finished he was already in the cart, all smiles, as was Isaiah and Joshua.

With a "giddy-up" and a flick of the reins, their journey began again. Mrs. Lorenz's small house was about a quarter of a mile past the school. As the cart rattled by the wooden, one-room school, Gio pointed out that's where they'd all go to school in the fall.

"All of us?" asked Stephen.

"Yep; grades one through eight. Be considerable more this year with all you Watt's kids going there too."

Stephen and Patrick were used to a brick elementary school with separate classrooms and teachers for each grade. The older kids were separated from the younger, definitely at recess, when the lower grades were together.

"Sure will be different," sighed Stephen somewhat fearful of what older boys could do to younger ones. Playground time could be catastrophic if an older boy tried bullying him or his brothers.

"Won't it be great?" Joshua exclaimed excitedly, "A real honest to god school!"

Mrs. Lorenz heard the boys laughing when they arrived in the donkey cart and stepped out to greet her guests. She recognized Gio, but the other four were unfamiliar. They all clambered down, Isaiah unhooked and tethered Ida, put the feed bag on her so she'd be content, and Peanut could nurse. The boys carried the two boxes to the house and as the contents were being unloaded and put away, she asked them to introduce themselves.

Isaiah started, giving his name and his father's name, Joshua next, then Stephen, and finally Patrick. As each said their name, she gave them a very warm welcome. All four stood, sort of expectantly wondering what would happen next.

"So," she said, "you're all Dorothea's grandsons. How pleased she must be. I heard from Gio's grandmother Dorothea's kin was moving back home."

She sighed, "I remember when your daddies lived here and went to the school down the road," pointing in the direction of the one room school. She looked at Isaiah and a sadness crossed her face.

"So, you're Isaiah. I'm sorry for what you went through when your grandfather died, but, not to speak ill of the dead, he was a wicked and mean man! Bless you for your courage. You're quite a hero, you know!"

Isaiah didn't know and Stephen and Patrick were confused about what she was referring to. They hoped he'd say something and he did. "Thank you," and added nothing else.

Isaiah and Gio filled her wood box and Gio checked her ice box, noting there was a good-sized block of ice in there, emptied the drip pan, and put it back.

"Grandma said I was supposed to check your ice and if you needed some Uncle Freddy would bring it up."

"Thanks anyway," she replied, "but Walter, up the road, brought me some when he brought me some goat milk earlier this morning."

All of the boys, except Gio, wrinkled their nose, and frowned, not particularly interested in trying any and hoped she didn't offer, but said nothing.

"We gotta go, Mrs. Lorenz," Gio announced.

She expressed her thanks, telling him to express it to his grandmother and grandfather.

It didn't take long to re-hitch Ida and the boys started down the road toward home.

Gio pointed over his shoulder, up the road from Mrs. Lorenz's. "About three miles that way is Walter's place. He's called the Goat Man. Has goats all over the place."

"What's he do with them all?" Joshua asked, never hearing of the man before now.

Isaiah turned a suspicious glance toward Gio. He smelled a rat or a prank in the lead up and Gio's eyes, not his very serious face and thoughtful, pondering look, twinkling with mischief, said it all.

"Well, I've heard, some of the goats he milks, some he eats, and his favorites, he fucks!"

Stephen, Patrick, and Joshua's mouths gaped in both disbelief and trepidation at such perversion wondering if perhaps it was true. After all, almost anything goes in Decker's Corner.

"Really?" gasped Stephen.

"Nah," snickered Gio, "I'm just shitting you," and began to laugh aloud.

It was a giggly, snickering ride back to Gio's grandmother's house. He hopped down, empty peach crates in one hand, gave a wave with the other, and Isaiah gave a flick of the reins, starting Ida toward home.

Amidst the clip, clop of the burro's feet, he overheard Patrick ask his brother, "Does this Walter guy really stick his--- you know—in a goat's butt?"

To be continued:

***

 

Thank you for reading "The Private Journals of Isaiah Watts, Volume One-

Chapters Ten, Eleven, and Twelve."

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or locales is entirely coincidental or used in a fictional content.

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