On the baseball pages I wrote of a story my father told me in answer to the whereabouts of a serial troll known as “dirtyharry”. Father might have made it up to illustrate a point but I think not. I think its true. It goes like this…
Growing up poor in Louisiana he had a neighbor across the lake. A repellent man, an old time racist and serial beater of wives. This man hated his other neighbor with who he shared a fence. That neighbor was an age mate and a black fellow. Father did not elaborate much on if the black fellow was of any account. Anyhow these two feuded for decades. Dogs shot, cars burnt, fist fights and so on. One day the black fellow dropped dead from a heart attack. After the family had left, father, who worked as a grave digger in those days, noticed the old racist was standing there at the grave side, crying. Father asked him what he was doing there since it was well known that the two loathed one another. The old racist replied that the only person in the world that gave a damn for him was now dead.
I wonder if such people really exist? Polar opposites who in some weird way need each other? Indeed, may love each other. My thoughts are dark with this but I cannot see that this is bad or in any way a wrong. It has been my experience that some people are damaged by life. Irreparably so. All they have is that darkness to view the world through. As a way of insulating themselves they attack that which shows their weakness. For such a person, hating is the same as loving.
Of course I am a nearsighted pressed pork. What do I know?
