He knew his father, Dick. A long time ago Butch and him were on a ship together. Touring all the bases. From Italy to Japan, they were part of the sonar team. Most of the time though was spent messing around. Cards, and drinking, and laughing. Talking about people back home they hated and some people they loved. Butch at one point got so sick all from a tooth. That they had to operate, and with a pair of heat sterilized pliers Dick pull out one of his molars. They were too far away from shore.
Another time they went to a shore, and there must have been a festival, because it seemed like all the women in the town were there. Dick being as big as he was, and Joe couldn't remember how, but Dick lifter them both on his shoulder. Joe had that picture somewhere, taken on a now broken camera.
Dick when he got home after the duty met someone fast, complicated, and broke it off, he moved somewhere else, lost in shame and other feelings. Butch called, and they'd fish, but for reasons or another they never spoke about much else.
Butch played a sort of father role, watching him when it was needed and buying him gifts, when Big Joe came into the world at 9 lbs and 22 inches, Dick never saw him.
Another time they went to a shore, and there must have been a festival, because it seemed like all the women in the town were there. Dick being as big as he was, and Joe couldn't remember how, but Dick lifter them both on his shoulder. Joe had that picture somewhere, taken on a now broken camera.
Dick when he got home after the duty met someone fast, complicated, and broke it off, he moved somewhere else, lost in shame and other feelings. Butch called, and they'd fish, but for reasons or another they never spoke about much else.
Butch played a sort of father role, watching him when it was needed and buying him gifts, when Big Joe came into the world at 9 lbs and 22 inches, Dick never saw him.
