Pops

It was my weekend to visit my grandfather. I exaggerate a bit, because it's just me and him

now. Both my parents died in a car accident when I was 10, and “Pops”, took me in. We grieved my parents together, since he lost a son and daughter in law, I lost both parents. I learned a lot from Pops. He taught me how to behave in many situations, helped me with schoolwork, had me help him around the farm, taught me many practical tasks like woodworking, house maintenance, plus hunting and fishing. He kept me busy enough it kept my mind of the loss of my parents, and guided me through adolescence. Pops definatly made me the person I am today. Its not a chore to visit him and I make it a point to see him every few weeks, and make sure I don't skip it, unless work takes me away.

We have found if we spend a weekend together, instead of a nighttime visit, we both get more out of the visit. We rekindle our friendship, and catch up on anything new. We also make sure we do different activities, so we can get out of any rut we might be in, and we often do things we would not otherwise do. He takes me fishing, both rod and reel and some legal gill netting. Most of the fish he catches he either salts or smokes, and sells the filets to a local farmers market. He doesn't need the money, it’s something for him to do, he sees the townsfolk, and keeps him out of the bars. It sure doesn't keep him away from drinking, he always seems to have a beer or jar of whisky nearby. I get him out walking, and we talk, it's a good trade. He knows a fair bit about local animals and plants, and it's fun to go with him. He lives on a small farm where he rents the farming out, and he has plenty of spare time at 75 yrs old.

One of the conversations I wanted to have with him was about one of his neighbors who keeps trying to take over Pops property, a few feet at a time. The guy is another farmer, and has all sorts of ways to encroach. During planting season, he regularly will plant 15-20 feet into Pops land. Pops just plows that under, and has taken to putting rocks down on the property line. The neighbor has tried to put fences up on Pops property. Pops sometimes burns them in place, sometimes takes them down and cuts them up for firewood. Pops has stopped trying to talk to the guy, he is openly possesive of Pops property, saying “you arent using it, so I will”. Pops explains he has a rental agreement on the land, the guy doesnt care. Feels it is first come, first serve. Pops has enlisted the police, gone to court, many times for both, has always been found correct, but the guy still uses Pops land. Sadly, the courts and police have grown tired of it, and stopped caring or doing anything about the situation..

One of their last encounters came to blows. Well, kind of. According to Pops, he was working on his barn, painting, when the neighbor drove up in a panic. “You destroyed my fence”, the guy said. Pops didn't pay him much mind, kept painting, and said “that right. Its on my property. I have told you this too many times, if youre going to be stupid about it, I can too”. The neighbor took a swing at Pops. It didnt connect, and Pops, who was still painting, ducked his paint brush in the can of paint, and threw it at the neighbor. Nailed him right in the face. He then stepped over and gut punched the guy. When the idiot recovered, Pops told him “Get off my property, stop trying to take it over, or worse will happen” The neighbor got in his truck, and said “this isnt over. Watch your back, because now I’m going to stop this once and for all.

Pops wasn't home when I showed up Friday afternoon, but since he doesn't lock the door, so I made myself at home. After an hour or so, I started to get worried, and looked around his buildings to try to find him. He wasn't in the barn, but his old pickup was gone, his farm truck, which he doesn't use much anymore, was parked. I decided that I would check some of his favorite fishing spots. He has a couple, and I went to his favorite one first.

My grandfather was in his usual spot, on the shore, on his stool, rod in hand, line in the water. I approached him from his left, for I knew if he reeled his line in, he would re-cast, completing the motion on his right side, so, left was safe. I was also surprised his back was to any approach. Combined with the gentle sound of the sea, he was open to attack. He has been feuding with a neighbor over a property line, and the neighbor threatened bodily harm. “Pops”, I yelled, “What are you doing, sitting there with your back to anyone who might want to hurt you’? There was no answer. I moved closer, and repeated my words, again no answer. I got right next to him, yelled “Pops”, and shook his shoulder. Pops fell over, landing partly in the water, scaring me. I grabbed him, and was surprised to see it wasn't Pops, and that whoever it was, was dead. The corpse also had a fishing rod tied to his hands. Standing there, I never heard Pops come up behind me, and was startled when Pops said ”That's the neighbor who thought he owned some of my property. He shot my dog, so I ran him over with my old farm truck, then brought him out here. He didn't like fishing, so I put him here to think about shooting Rex, and him trying to steal my property”.

Now, help me get him in the boat I went back for, and help me throw him in the sea.