Only Lucas at Home

Child, come sit here next to my rocker whilst I tell you why 
Lucas Buck is all alone in that big house of his, without another 
creature for company.
	When Lucas was just a boy, younger even than Caleb 
Temple, a mongrel pup followed him home one day.  While 
loving and caring for that floppy-eared hound would have taught 
young Lucas a lot about Life's good lessons, his pa had it in mind 
to each him something else.  See, none but his family knew that 
the Old Man was as cruel as he was cold. He swore that 
young'un needed some toughening, so one night, mad with 
meanness and liquored up, he shot that dog for no good reason, 
and made Lucas dig the grave for it with his own toy shovel.
	What Lucas Buck learned that night was anything close 
enough to touch you is close enough to hurt you, and he hasn't 
let much get close to him since.
	You probably heard it from other folks in Trinity that 
even termites avoid the Buck house, but it's not, like the gossips 
say, because Lucas is cruel to God's creatures. Big or small, 
they recognize something in Buck's nature that reminds them 
of their deadliest enemy, and they turn away to persevere, to 
survive.
	I imagine that Miz' Loris has told you that old Sister 
Grimm is possessed of the Second Sight, and certain gifts of 
knowing.  Well, scoot closer to me while I tell you what my 
heart sees.
	Out in the woodshed behind the Bucks place there's a 
tiny spark of life.   There's a sleek black widow spider, no 
bigger than a pea, spinning her tangled web in a low, dark 
corner near the door. Now, Buck's never seen her, but he 
can feel she's there: making herself strong, waiting for a 
husband  to fertilize her eggs, hell, maybe make her a bedtime 
snack too. I can't tell if that troubles him or comforts him, but 
in the still, long night, I can hear a little boy's heart cry for his 
dog.
	Now get on home before the fireflies carry you off.

Sr. Revilia Grimm, president
Chapel of the West Academy of Divine Sciences
and Auto Upholstery
From:	srgrimm@teleport.com (Sister Grimm)