Dear Diary

 

Author's Note:

While going through this chapter to correct spelling inconsistencies regarding some of the names, I also took the time to bootbox what I believe to be the most difficult to decipher Cajun dialect.  While translating it, I did not always stick to the exact wording, as I decided that making the message clearer was the point of the bootbox, so I gave the meaning of the phrases I was translating, not just the exact translation.  I hope this helps any of you that are not familiar with the colloquial Cajun tongue.

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René knew it wasn't going to be a good day when he woke up. He understood the message his body was giving him all too well. He would not be raising his little popsicle babies. That was his last thought before rushing to the bathroom to be sick. He couldn't think of anything but his stomach for some time. In fact he only realized that there was more to life outside his pain when he felt two small sets of hands rubbing his back as he lay on the floor.

"Did you drunk too much last night, Tante René?" Emile asked softly.

"Emmy, don't axe dat"Emmy, don't axe dat ("Emmy, do not ask that")," Etienne gasped. "You want a whoopingYou want a whooping ("Do you want to be beaten")?"

"Poppa trow up like dat when he drunk too much, EnnyPoppa trow up like dat when he drunk too much, Enny ("Our father threw up like that when he was intoxicated, Enny")," Emile snapped. "Momma, she fix him dat nasty drink wid de egg to make him more betterMomma, she fix him dat nasty drink wid de egg to make him more better ("Our mother would fix him that nasty drink with the egg to make him feel better"). I jest wants to know should we fix one of dem for Tante René."

"Sha, bébésSha, bébés ("I am sorry but even Cajuns admit there is no translation for this.  It is simply a noise made always accompanied by the words baby or babies, and only done in the presence of small young children")," René moaned. "I ain't drunk. I'm just sick."

"We gonna caught what you sick wid, Tante RenéWe gonna caught what you sick wid, Tante René ("Will we catch what you are sick with, Aunt René")?" Etienne asked quietly, but he didn't pull away.

"No, bébé, you can't caught dis what I gotNo, bébé, you can't caught dis what I got ("No, baby, you can not catch what I have")," René explained.

"Tante René, you don't got to took us to de park.  We stood in de house and took care of youTante René, you don't got to took us to de park.  We stood in de house and took care of you ("Aunt René, you do not have to take us to the park.  We will stay in the house and take care of you")," Etienne offered.

"Oh bébés," René whispered as he saw the disappointment on their little faces, but he saw the genuineness of their offer as well. He knew that if he asked them to, these little angels would give up their special day for him, but he couldn't ask that of them. He pulled them both into a hug and said, "Ain't no tooking care of gonna fix dis I got, me no. If'n y'all help me back to de bedroom again, I'ma got dress and we go to dat park most all de day. We took us to de Burger King for lunch and on de way home, we stop at de store and I bought some popsicle for my popsicle bébésAin't no tooking care of gonna fix dis I got, me no. If'n y'all help me back to de bedroom again, I'ma got dress and we go to dat park most all de day. We took us to de Burger King for lunch and on de way home, we stop at de store and I bought some popsicle for my popsicle bébés ("No amount of taking care of me will fix what it is wrong with me.  If you two will help me back to the bedroom again, I will get dressed and we will spend the day at the park.  We will go the Burger King for lunch, and on the way home we can stop at the store and I will buy popsicles for my popsicle babies")."

The twins' eyes went wide with wonder at this proclamation. This was going to be the best day they could ever remember. It was too, as they did everything that their Tante René had promised. They played on the climbing thing that Tante René called monkey bars. They fed the ducks and squirrels and swans. One of the squirrels even came up and ate right out of their hands. When they got to Burger King, the boys got cardboard crowns to wear on their heads, and they were completely oblivious to the looks that they got when Etienne announced that he was not a king.

"I'm no king, me no," the tiny boy announced proudly. "Me, I'm a queen, just like Tante René."

René quietly hurried the little ones with their meal and they headed to the grocery store. It was there that their day suddenly began to go very badly very quickly. As they walked into the small country store, René heard a broadcast of news on the radio.

"The remains of a young woman, believed to be Antoinette Pospisil, have been recovered from the bayou this morning. Her husband, Guidry Pospisil, Jr. was found nearby. Mr. Pospisil was suffering from a serious stab wound to the chest and has been taken to a hospital in Baton Rouge where he is in critical condition. Authorities have been unable to find any trace of their two young sons, Emile and Etienne. The incident is being investigated as foul play and police are not ruling out the possibility that the children may have been kidnapped. Well known businessman and political figure Guidry Pospisil, Sr. could not be reached for comment."

"You chillens go get in da carYou chillens go get in da car ("You children go get in the car")," René told the boys. "I sorry bout dis, but we got to go took care of some mess somebody done made. We got you some popsicle another dayI sorry bout dis, but we got to go took care of some mess somebody done made. We got you some popsicle another day ("I am sorry about this, but we have to take care of a mess someone has made.  We will get you some popsicles another day")."

René quickly buckled the boys into their seats and headed back down the country roads to the plantation.   As he neared the turn off for his home, he saw the blue lights in his rear view mirror. Fearing the worst, but not wanting to make things more difficult and dangerous than they already were, he pulled over. The deputy sheriff jumped out of the patrol car and sprinted up to René's window.  He asked René to step out of the car when he saw the two children in the back seat.

"Auntie René, you in some heap of trouble," the young man said nervously. "Old man Pospisil, he trying to make out that you done murdered his kin and stole them two babies to have sex with them."

"That damned old fool," René growled. "I wouldn't no more have sex with dem precious bébés than he would wid me, and he knowed it. Beside dat, I couldn't no more did dat if'n I had to wid de cancerI wouldn't no more have sex with dem precious bébés than he would wid me, and he knowed it. Beside dat, I couldn't no more did dat if'n I had to wid de cancer ("I would not have sex with those babies anymore than he would have sex with me, and he knows it.  Besides that, I could not do it if I had to with the cancer")."

"Well, he's got the sheriff looking for you, Auntie René," the young deputy said quickly. "I was in de room when him and old man Pospisil heard Guidry with their own ears. He killed his wife hisself after she stab him last night. He died hisself right after he told datI was in de room when him and old man Pospisil heard Guidry with their own ears. He killed his wife hisself after she stab him last night. He died hisself right after he told dat ("I was in the room when he and old man Pospisil heard Guidry with their own ears.  He killed his wife himself after she stabbed him last night.  He died himself right after he said it")."

"My poor little Popsicle babies got no Momma nor Poppa now," René mused aloud.

"They ain't gonna have no Auntie René, either, if you don't hightail it out of here," the deputy advised. "I don't know where you gonna go, but you better get there quick."

"I can't did dat.  Dat'll made me look guilty for shoI can't did dat.  Dat'll made me look guilty for sho ("I can not do that.  That will make me look guilty for sure")," René protested.

"You are guilty you old pervert!" René and the deputy both looked around to see the sheriff and Guidry Pospisil walking towards them. "You finally going to get what you deserve, you disgusting old sicko."

"You keep calling me old, Guidry," René observed. "I knowed for a fact that you got me by a good two years. If'n I'm old, what dat made youI knowed for a fact that you got me by a good two years. If'n I'm old, what dat made you ("I know for a fact that you are two years older than I am.  If I am old, what does that make you")?"

"This ain't no time for joking, Mr. Brouillard," the sheriff said quietly. "Now you just step on away from that car and keep your hands where I can see."

"Sheriff, you heard Guidry hisself confess to what was happening here," the deputy began.

René gasped as the deputy slumped to the ground. The sound of the gunshot which had splattered the young man's blood all over him still echoed in René's ears. It was accompanied by the laughter of Guidry Pospisil who held the smoking pistol, and the whimpering cries of the two boys in René's back seat.

"I believe you getting to be a better shot every time I see you fire dat thing," the sheriff said with a laugh.

"Did you see de look on his face when he realize half his head blowed off?" Guidry snorted. "He already dead, and he don't believe it till he hit de ground."

"Well, he never were smart as he thought he was," the sheriff retorted. "You want I should shoot René now?"

"Have you lost what little sense your momma give you when you was born?" Guidry snapped. "We got to keep this fairy alive and well. We got to make a public spectacle of Miss René here. Somebody got to took the blame and the punishing for this mess."

René struggled to keep from being sick as he stared down at the mess all over his clothes and beyond that, the puddle of blood and brain matter forming around the dead deputy. He was only barely aware of the gun being shoved into his hand so that his fingerprints were on it. He was shoved back into his own car, but into the passenger seat with the sheriff driving. He was shocked to see that they were continuing to his home. Emil and Etienne were put into the back of the sheriff's patrol car and their grandfather drove it following them.

"Ain't you gonna invite us in you house, René?" Guidry asked sarcastically when they arrived at the antebellum manor. He was once again waving the gun around, and René could see the Popsicle Twins cowering in the back seat of the patrol car. "I'm giving you the chance to did something you tried to do nigh onto seventy year ago; took me to your room, René." René didn't even try to hide his confusion. "I knowed you got some fine fancy dresses in dat closet. I want you to get out you best one, wid de most frills and fluff. You gonna wear dat to de jailhouse. I want everybody in town to see you looking you best, you sick faggot. Dat way ever'body knowed what kind of nastiness you was up to wid my grandbabiesI knowed you got some fine fancy dresses in dat closet. I want you to get out you best one, wid de most frills and fluff. You gonna wear dat to de jailhouse. I want everybody in town to see you looking you best, you sick faggot. Dat way ever'body knowed what kind of nastiness you was up to wid my grandbabies ("I know you have some fine, fancy dresses in that closet.  I want you get out your best one, with the most frills and fluff.  You are going to wear that to the jailhouse.  I want everybody in town to see you looking your best, you sick faggot.  That way everyone will know what kind of nastiness you were up to with my grandbabies.")."

"You don't love them babies, Guidry," René snapped. "You don't love nothing nor nobody but youself. Maybe if you had loved you wife, she wouldn't have left you all them years ago."

"You damn fool, René," Guidry laughed out loud. "Marie ain't left me no. She at de bottom of de bayou wid dat useless hired hand she was fooling around wid. I kill dem both dead de day I found out about dem having a baby and claiming it was mineMarie ain't left me no. She at de bottom of de bayou wid dat useless hired hand she was fooling around wid. I kill dem both dead de day I found out about dem having a baby and claiming it was mine ("Marie didn't leave me.  She is at the bottom of the bayou with that useless hired hand with whom she was having an affair.  I murdered them both the day I found out they had a baby and claimed that it was mine")."

"Guidry wasn't your son?" René gasped. "I never did tink he look anyting like you."

"If dat boy been mine by blood, he would have been able to handle dat bitch he marry, instead of her stabbing him like dat. Least he managed to kill her before he die hisselfIf dat boy been mine by blood, he would have been able to handle dat bitch he marry, instead of her stabbing him like dat. Least he managed to kill her before he die hisself ("If that boy had been my son biologically, he would have been able to handle that bitch he married, instead of letting her stab him like that.  At least he managed to kill her before he died himself")."

"What de hell I ever see in you, Guidry Pospisil?" René questioned aloud. "You de most evil being I ever heard tell of in all my born days. Why you did all dis? You could told de truth about dat boy and how he ain't never treat poor Antoinette right and nobody blame you for what happened to either one of demYou de most evil being I ever heard tell of in all my born days. Why you did all dis? You could told de truth about dat boy and how he ain't never treat poor Antoinette right and nobody blame you for what happened to either one of dem ("You are the most evil being I have ever heard in my entire life.  Why are you doing all this?  You could tell the truth about that boy and how he has never treated poor Antoinette right and no one would blame you for what happened to either of them")."

"Of course they wouldn't, you damn fool," Guidry snapped. "I ain't had nuttin to did wid dat nohow. Dat boy never was right and ever'body in de bayou knowed it. De reason I'm didding is cause I can. I been wanting to get rid of you ever since you told me what a pervert you was when we was boys. People like you ain't natural. I been trying to get rid of you for our whole lives. I gots to get you outta my mind once and for allI ain't had nuttin to did wid dat nohow. Dat boy never was right and ever'body in de bayou knowed it. De reason I'm didding is cause I can. I been wanting to get rid of you ever since you told me what a pervert you was when we was boys. People like you ain't natural. I been trying to get rid of you for our whole lives. I gots to get you outta my mind once and for all ("I didn't have anything to do with that anyway.  That boy was mentally unstable and everyone on the bayou knew it.  The reason I am doing this is because I can.  I have been wanting to get rid of you ever since you told me a pervert you were when we were boys.  People like you are not natural.  I have been trying to get rid of you for our whole lives.  I have to get you out of my mind once and for all")."

"What you mean out you mindWhat you mean out you mind ("What  do you mean out of your mind")?" René questioned.

"What?" Old Man Guidry stumbled. " I ain't said dat. I said I want you out my life I ain't said dat. I said I want you out my life ("I did not say that.  I said I wanted you out of my life")." He waved the gun wildly as he yelled, "Hurry up and put dat dress on. I want to took you out on the town.  I want ever'body in de bayou to see you all dolled up for meHurry up and put dat dress on. I want to took you out on the town.  I want ever'body in de bayou to see you all dolled up for me ("Hurry up and put that dress on.  I want to take you out on the town.  I want everyone on the bayou to see you all dressed up fancy for me")." He laughed rather maniacally at this point.

"You coulda took me out years agoYou coulda took me out years ago ("You could have taken me out years ago")," René laughed sadly. "You know dat's de real shame of my whole lifeYou know dat's de real shame of my whole life ("You know that is the real shame of my whole life")."

"You should be shamed of yousself in dem dresses and suchYou should be shamed of yousself in dem dresses and such ("You should be ashamed of yourself in those dresses and such")," Guidry told him.

"I can't help de way I was born anymore den I could help loving you my whole damn fool lifeI can't help de way I was born anymore den I could help loving you my whole damn fool life ("I can not help the way I was born any more than I can help loving you my entire stupid life")," René mumbled as he sat down on the side of his bed. "You is de shame of my life, Guidry. No matter how bad you treat me all dese years, I never stop being in love wid youYou is de shame of my life, Guidry. No matter how bad you treat me all dese years, I never stop being in love wid you ("You are the shame of my life, Guidry.  No matter how badly you treated me all these years, I never stopped being in love with you")."

"Don't spoke to me like datDon't spoke to me like dat ("Do not speak to me like that")," Guidry ordered.

"You gonna see I get killed one way or de other now, so I'm gonna said what I damn well please, Guidry Pospisil. You want me shet up, you best shoot me nowYou gonna see I get killed one way or de other now, so I'm gonna said what I damn well please, Guidry Pospisil. You want me shet up, you best shoot me now ("You are going to see that I get killed one way or another now, so I will say what I what I damned well please, Guidry Pospisil.  If you want me to shut up, you had better shoot me now")," René said defiantly.

"Dat's right, I'll shoot you dead," Guidry warned.

"You best get to shooting denYou best get to shooting den ("You had better start shooting then")," René told him. "I told you when I was twelve year old dat I love you and gonna love you forever. I meant it den, and damn me for a fool if it ain't been true all dese years. You done spent better'n sixty years making my life as hard as you could and I stayed and took ever bit. I took it cause I wanted to stay near you no matter how bad it got. My heart set on you and nobody else never stood a chanceI told you when I was twelve year old dat I love you and gonna love you forever. I meant it den, and damn me for a fool if it ain't been true all dese years. You done spent better'n sixty years making my life as hard as you could and I stayed and took ever bit. I took it cause I wanted to stay near you no matter how bad it got. My heart set on you and nobody else never stood a chance ("I told you when I was twelve years old that I loved you and would love you forever.  I meant it then and damn me for a fool it has not been true all these years.  You have spent more than sixty years making my life as difficult as you could and I stayed and took all of it.  I took it because I wanted to stay near you no matter how bad it got.  My heart was set on you and no one else ever had a chance")."

"Why you spoke like disWhy you spoke like dis ("Why are you talking like this")?" Guidry demanded. "If you tink dis gonna change my mindIf you tink dis gonna change my mind ("If you think this is going to change my mind")…."

"I don't care no more what you did or tink, you hateful old bastageI don't care no more what you did or tink, you hateful old bastage ("I no longer care what you do or think, you hateful old bastard")," René replied. "See, you wastin' all your effort anyways. You doing all dis to got rid of me outta you life and all you had to did was wait another six months. I got de cancer all over. I'm dying anywaysSee, you wastin' all your effort anyways. You doing all dis to got rid of me outta you life and all you had to did was wait another six months. I got de cancer all over. I'm dying anyways ("You see, you are wasting all your efforts anyway.  You are doing all of this to get rid of me out of your life and all you have to do is wait another six months.  I have terminal cancer.  I am dying anyway")."

"You lying," Guidry snapped.

"What de hal good it gonna did me to told you a lie nowWhat de hal good it gonna did me to told you a lie now ("What in the hell good would it do me to tell you a lie now")?" René countered. "Took a look in dat bat'room medicine cabinet. Dem ain't vitamen in all dem bottlesTook a look in dat bat'room medicine cabinet. Dem ain't vitamen in all dem bottles ("Take a look in that bathroom medicine cabinet.  Those are not vitamin pills in all of those bottles")." As Guidry peered into the bathroom, René sat on the bed thinking. "You know, now I'ma tink on it, Guidry, dis might just be de nicest ting you done ever did for meYou know, now I'ma tink on it, Guidry, dis might just be de nicest ting you done ever did for me ("You know, now that I am thinking about it, Guidry, this may just be the nicest thing you have ever done for me")."

"What you mean?" Guidry asked as he walked out of the bathroom. He still clutched the gun, but the hand that held hung limply at his side.

"You thought on dis, Guidry; if'n you shoot me now, you gonna saved me from six months of misery and agony and painYou thought on dis, Guidry; if'n you shoot me now, you gonna saved me from six months of misery and agony and pain ("Think about this, Guidry; if you shoot me now, you will save me from six months of misery and agony and pain")," René said as he looked at the man he had loved from afar for a lifetime.  He struggled to his feet and started shedding his clothes as seductively as he could manage.  "What would it took, Guidry? I'ma give you de choice.  You can shoot me dead or you can took me to bed den kill me after you done had your fun, and nobody had to know a ting you did wid meWhat would it took, Guidry? I'ma give you de choice.  You can shoot me dead or you can took me to bed den kill me after you done had your fun, and nobody had to know a ting you did wid me ("What would it take, Guidry? I will give you the choice.  You can kill me now or you can take me to bed and still kill me afterwards without anyone knowing what you have done with me")."

"You shut up, and get de hal away from meYou shut up, and get de hal away from me ("You shut up and get the hell away from me")," Guidry said, but his voice quivered as did his hands.

"I told you when we was kids dat nobody would ever knowed it if you did something wid meI told you when we was kids dat nobody would ever knowed it if you did something wid me ("I told you when we were children that no one would ever know if you did something with me")," René pointed out as he continued to strip. "I save myself my whole life for you. You could kill me anytime now and I'ma thank you for it, or you could let me die happy and maybe even have a little fun yousselfI save myself my whole life for you. You could kill me anytime now and I'ma thank you for it, or you could let me die happy and maybe even have a little fun yousself ("I have saved myself my entire life for you.  You could kill me at any time and I would thank you for it, or you could let me die happy and maybe even have a little fun yourself")."

Guidry backed away nervously. "What you mean you save yousself? You neverWhat you mean you save yousself? You never ("What do you mean you have saved yourself? Do you mean that you have never")…."

"I suck off a boy from my college once, but when he try to get serious wid me, I turn him down coldI suck off a boy from my college once, but when he try to get serious wid me, I turn him down cold ("I performed oral sex on a boy that I attended college with once, but when he wanted a long term relationship, I turned him away completely")," René answered. "Dere was never gonna be any lover for me but you, and dere never was. Rat now I gots to be de world's oldest living virginDere was never gonna be any lover for me but you, and dere never was. Rat now I gots to be de world's oldest living virgin ("There was never going to be any lover for me but you, and there never was.  Right now I am probably the world's oldest living virgin")."

"SHERIFF!!!" Guidry screamed out suddenly.

When the sheriff came into the room, he found Guidry standing in a corner shaking almost as if in fear. René was sitting back on the bed wrapped in a purple silk robe, staring at Guidry, but obviously deep in thought.

"Sheriff, you see to dat whore getting dressed up in a fine fancy dress for going to town, and you did it quickSheriff, you see to dat whore getting dressed up in a fine fancy dress for going to town, and you did it quick ("Sheriff, you make sure this whore gets dressed up in a fancy dress for going to town and do it quickly")," Guidry ordered. "I'm gonna took my grandbabies over to my house. Dey gots to get settled in dere new homeI'm gonna took my grandbabies over to my house. Dey gots to get settled in dere new home ("I am going to take my grandchildren to my house.  They have to get settled in their new home")."

"You gots to shoot me nowYou gots to shoot me now ("You have to shoot me now")," René told them both. "I'm plum wore out. I can't put no dress on now. I can't put no clothes of no kind on. Hal, I can't even raise my arms nowI'm plum wore out. I can't put no dress on now. I can't put no clothes of no kind on. Hal, I can't even raise my arms now ("I am completely exhausted.  I cannot put a dress on now.  I cannot put on any clothes.  Hell, I cannot even raise my arms now")." He tried to lift one arm but after just an inch or so, it fell back to the bed. René was sweating from the effort of just that. "I do too much today tooking dem bébés to de park and de Burger KingI do too much today tooking dem bébés to de park and de Burger King ("I did too much today taking the babies to the park and the Burger King")." He looked up at Guidry in the doorway and said pointedly, "I'ma die one way or tether, Guidry Pospisil, and I gets to Heaven, I'm gonna be watching you. You treat dem bébés right or I'ma come back for youI'ma die one way or tether, Guidry Pospisil, and I gets to Heaven, I'm gonna be watching you. You treat dem bébés right or I'ma come back for you ("I am going to die one way or another, Guidry Pospisil, and when I get to Heaven, I am going to be watching you.  You treat those babies right or I will come back for you")."

"Perverts like you don't go to heaven," the sheriff said snidely.

"You both best hope I did, cause if'n I go tether place, I swore rat here rat now, I'ma brought ole Marie LeVeau herself back wid me, and I'll put de curse on both of youYou both best hope I did, cause if'n I go tether place, I swore rat here rat now, I'ma brought ole Marie LeVeau herself back wid me, and I'll put de curse on both of you ("You had better hope that I do, because if I go to the other place, I swear I will bring Marie LeVeau back with me to put a curse on both of you")," René vowed solemnly. The sheriff laughed the threat off, but Guidry remained silent.

"You gonna get dressed, you faggot, or am I gonna took you in like dat?  Won't make no never mind to me and de boys down to de jailhouse if'n you naked as de day you borned.  Just a little easier in de night is allYou gonna get dressed, you faggot, or am I gonna took you in like dat?  Won't make no never mind to me and de boys down to de jailhouse if'n you naked as de day you borned.  Just a little easier in de night is all ("Are you going to get dressed, you faggot, or am I going to have to take you in like that?  It will not matter to me and the boys down at the jailhouse if you are naked as the day you were born.  It will just be easier at night that way")," the sheriff sneered.

"Don't you never threaten him again.  Don't nobody touch René cepting meDon't you never threaten him again.  Don't nobody touch René cepting me ("Do not ever threaten him again.  No one touches René except me")," Guidry snapped. "Dis here a Brouillard, you damn fool. Dey been in dese bayous longer than anybody. You forget who you're talking to like dat again, and dey gonna find you body upside de road just like dat fool deputyDis here a Brouillard, you damn fool. Dey been in dese bayous longer than anybody. You forget who you're talking to like dat again, and dey gonna find you body upside de road just like dat fool deputy ("This is a Brouillard, you damn fool.  They have been in these bayous longer than anyone else.  If you forget who you are talking to like that again, they will find your body on the side of the road just like that fool deputy")."

"Yessir, Mr. Pospisil," the sheriff gulped. Neither he nor René could figure out what was going through Guidry Pospisil's mind at that moment, but there was definitely something going on.

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Editor's Notes:

Well, it looks like Auntie René and the Popsicle Twins have got theyselves in a heap of trouble. Many thanks to Tommy Short for helping to cope with the Cajun dialect … though Mississippi Redneck wasn't much of an improvement! And how does all this tie to Dixon and Jesse, and to the two boys standing trial on trumped up charges up in Arkansas? Well, we'll just have to see….

D&B

 

 

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