Wise Men and Other Stories Read Online Free PDF Page A

Jerry for the next three or four years. During that time, Jerry and Kathleen had two more children—two boys—and family lore also has it that, were it not for the exceptional beauty and grace of that first baby girl, Bud might have had nothing at all to do with Jerry or Kathleen.
    Bud’s other daughter, Sheila, did not fare any better in Bud’s eyes. She also met her husband, Larry, at Slippery Rock. Also a Catholic. Also eastern European (Polish). Sheila and Larry married a few years after Kathleen and Jerry.
    None of this made Bud very happy, but gradually, he began to accept things as they were. He came to enjoy the company of his daughters again. He liked his grandchildren, too. But he could still do without his two sons - in - law.
    Although it would be many years before he would greet either son - in - law with open arms, Bud saw from the start that Jerry was working hard to provide for his family—first as a school teacher, then as a restaurant manager, then as a salesman. Larry was also a hard worker. If nothing else, Bud could appreciate hard work.
    Bud was impressed enough that, when he came across a good idea for a new business, he suggested it to Jerry and Larry and loaned them the money to get started.
    To make a long story short, that loan paid off in spades. Jerry turned out to be an exceptional salesman, Larry ran things at the plant, and together they turned that initial loan from Bud into a multi - million dollar business.
    Bud himself retired a wealthy man, but shortly after his retirement, his health began to fail. He had to give up his tool and die business. His wife, Kay, always active and capable throughout her life, took care of him at home—until she unexpectedly died of a heart attack in 1983.
    After the death of Kay, Bud’s daughters moved Bud to a nursing home near them. Of course, nursing homes are expensive, and Bud’s money eventually ran out. But don’t worry about Bud. As I said, that loan paid off. Those eastern European, Catholic boys are now taking care of Bud. Things came full circle.
    Things turned out all right for Bud because although he didn’t like his new sons - in - law at first, he still did the right thing: he provided for his family. And although Jerry did not like the way he was treated early on, he was not spiteful later in life.
    None of this has been lost on me. In this age of easy divorce and broken homes and abandoned children, one thing is clear: Family is more important than ever. You take care of them first. No matter what.
    Because Bud and Jerry knew that, things have turned out quite well for me. You see, I married Jerry’s daughter. And although Jerry was not crazy about me at first, he has since gone out of his way to treat me as one of his own sons. I’d like to think it’s because I’m such a great guy, but more likely, it’s because he remembers how he was treated by his father - in - law.
    And the story goes on. I now have a daughter. My number one goal is to take care of her. My number two goal is to let her go when she’s ready to go. If I happen not to like her choice for a husband—and I must acknowledge up front that, in my opinion, very few men, if any, will be good enough for my daughter—at least I’ll know how to act. I’ve seen two good, solid family men in action.
    Bud is in his eighties now. Sometimes he forgets things. He has his good days and his bad days. He moved out of the nursing home and now lives with his nurse in a condo that Jerry and Larry bought for him.
    The condo is on a golf course, and in the summer, when Jerry is playing a round of golf, he’ll drop in on Bud to say hello. Bud is always glad to see him.
    On one occasion, Jerry dropped in, got a cold drink, and stayed to joke around with Bud for a while. They had a good time, but eventually, Jerry had to get back to his golf game.
    After Jerry left, Bud turned to his nurse and asked, “Who was that kid?” Bud’s nurse told him that “kid” was his son - in -