Articles Archive
Latest 'Tale' shows the power and rarity of strong friendship
Commentary
By Tom Rivers
Feb. 22, 2007
I thought these "Tale for Three Counties" books would be safer,
happier, more pleasant.
But all five "A Tale for Three Counties" have had rough elements.
At least two of them portray murders.
The latest book, An Unfinished Life, takes us inside a home of an abusive
man, Roy. He feels quite justified in beating up his girlfriend Jean,
a woman he believes needs to be slapped and punched when she "talks
back."
Roy is the fourth loser-, abuser-, jerk-boyfriend Jean has had since
her husband died in a car accident with her behind the wheel. Jean hasn't
been the same since the accident. In a self-loathing state I don't understand,
she seems drawn to these losers who treat her terribly. It's all the
worse because she has a 9-year-old daughter, Griff, who also is subjected
to an occasional blow from her mom's "lovers." Griff has to
endure her mother's cries and see the bruises.
It's Griff who gives her mother the strength to flee Roy. They go to
her mother's hometown and Griff meets her grandfather Einar for the
first time. Einar didn't know Jean was pregnant in the accident that
killed his son.
Einar also has been unkind to Jean, not forgiving her for the accident.
He blames her and tells her he wishes she had died in the crash as well.
I'm not going to do a synopsis of the story. I will say I didn't like
reading about Roy-the-jerk, and how Jean kept subjecting herself and
her daughter to abusive jerks like him.
I enjoyed the adventures the grandfather shared with Griff. He teaches
her to milk a cow, ride a horse and drive an old truck - at age 9. They
even break a bear out of the zoo and release it in Yellowstone.
This is a story of redemption and forgiveness. You can read more about
that yourselves.
It's also a story of friendship, and that's the best part of the book.
Einar admits he would have lost the will to live after his son's death.
But his war buddy Mitch kept him going, telling him to stop wasting
his life in booze. Mitch gives Einar plenty of "tough love."
The two have been best friends for about 50 years, since they met in
the service during the Korean War.
Einar is Mitch's caregiver after Mitch gets mauled by the bear that
was later put in the zoo. Mitch is the one who insists the bear be freed
and returned to the wild.
Einar has some self-loathing of his own. He was drunk when the bear
attacked Mitch. Einar knows if he had his wits about him that day he
would have spared his friend a grisly fate. Mitch was crippled by the
bear, even had an ear torn off. But he forgives his friend, and he wants
Einar to give Jean the same gift of mercy.
The two friends nourish each other's souls. They make fun of each other
and build each other up. It's quite a friendship.
The story made me think of my dad and his best friend. When I was a
kid, it was always a treat for me to join my dad on trips to his friend's
house back in Cassadaga. Johnny Frick was the funniest guy I knew. I
liked how he picked on my dad for his garage-sale finds and tendency
to pinch pennies. But Johnny was always nice to my dad, offering wisdom
and praising him as well. We used to watch the Memorial Day parades
from Johnny's front porch.
I don't think my dad has been the same since Johnny died from cancer
about 17 years ago. My dad still goes to the diner back home every morning
to see his friends. But none are like Johnny.
A dear friend is a rare find. That was the best message of the latest
"Tale."
Tom Rivers is a general assignement reporter whose columns are published
alternate Thursdays
Courtesy of Batavia Newspapers Corporation