Foster Brother

When Jerry Blackburn was 9 months old, my mother took him in, and she took care of him until he was about 14 years old.

I did not know for many years that he was not my real brother, and I did not know enough to count the difference in our age to realize that there would be no way he could be my real brother.  We were only 8 months apart in age.

He and I were rivals when we were growing up.  Sometimes he was stronger than I, and sometimes I was stronger than he was.  This made for a rivalry that was a daily adventure.

Jerry was very smart, and he could make good grade in school without even studying, especially in the lower grades.  Later, he began to be a little lazy, and I began to make some better grades than he did, but he was always wittier than I was.

When Jerry was about 13 years old, he found out that he was not a child of my parents, and he went about to find out who his real mother was.  Once he found out, he left our house and went to live with her.  This broke my mother's heart, but there was nothing she could do.

One day my brother, Eddie, told my mother that Jerry was not working on the fence as he was supposed to do, but Jerry denied it.  The next day I took the camera and followed them.  I took a picture which showed that Jerry was not working (see his hands in his pockets); and when the pictures were developed (about 6 months later), I showed it to my mother to let her know for sure Jerry was not working.  My mother did not do anything, since so much time had gone by since the actual event. 

Once in school (we were in the same grade), Jerry and I liked the same girl.  I think it was in the 7th grade that I walked by the girl's desk and kissed her on the cheek.  When I got back to my desk, Jerry was so red in the face that you could have fried an egg on it.  He said, "I hope you're satisfied."  I said, "Why, is she your girlfriend?" (as if I didn't know).  He was angry with me for days over that one, but now I do not even remember what girl it was.