About Wilbur James, Jr.

I reckon the best way to tell about Wilbur James, Jr is to start with his daddy, Wilbur James Sr. Now Senior were well known in Harper; a land owner, cattle raiser, farmer, merchant and deacon. He were known as what they call "a good man." Back then, in the town just down the road from Harper, they had this hotel what was known to house special ladies for the entertainment of men. Nobody really knew who went there 'cause they had a back entrance and the head bellhop were given tips not to tell nothing. Well, that didn't work out too well for Senior 'cause he died in there. They said he had a heart attack from over-exertion. I reckon they could have hid all this too except for one really strange thing; Senior died with a smile on his face. It warn't no Mona Lisa smile, but a "I won the lottery" smile. Mrs. Senior let out a scream when she first seen him and spilled the beans right there in front of about half of Harper what had come to view their prominent citizen. The undertaker taken him back and tried to fix it, but it warn't no use 'cause it kept snapping back. They even called in a plastic surgeon from New Orleans. He wouldn't touch Senior. Not because he were afraid of dead bodies, but he said he couldn't change the look of happy to somber. All this affected Wilbur James, Jr. Not directly 'cause he were too young, but through his mama. Tomorrow I'll take that up.