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There were lots of things that Jesse didn't tell people, because he knew they wouldn't believe him.
He and Festus
aren't inbred; Festus's family tree has the right number of branches going up to four generations back, while Jesse can say
the same up to six generations back, on his mother's side.
He's older than Festus. He thinks no one believes on that
because of Festus's hairline, but it's true. He's almost two years older than Festus, which means he's got to look after him,
always has done.
Festus wasn't always like this, Jesse can clearly remember a time when Festus was exactly like the
rest of them - the two of them are only two out of fifteen cousins - but then he wasn't like the rest of them. It wasn't sudden
or anything, no accident or shock, it's like Festus got stuck like a broken down CD player.
Jesse isn't quite as dumb
as he lets people believe. Oh, he's not book-learned or even clever smart, but he's not as quite as dumb as a rock. He knows
there's something wrong with Festus. He also knew that if they'd stayed at home they'd never have got the money to fix him.
He knows that bringing Festus out to public ridicule in the ring probably isn't for the best, but he's got no better ideas
for raising money. He's known that Festus knew how to fight for years, the recess bell used to make sure that no one bullied
Festus, and the ringing at the end made sure the teachers never believed anyone who told them what had happened. All of the
stuff in the ring came naturally to Festus, but Jesse's had to work hard on it. It's the only thing that Festus finds easier
to do than he does, and Jesse couldn't explain why if you asked him, but it makes him happy that Festus does have something
like that.
So he lets people play him for a chump, lets himself seem gullible, rolls over and is the dumb hick. It
worked too. In the three months they'd been there, they'd almost raised enough for Festus to see some swanky doctor, complete
with a degree from Harvard Medical and everything. Jesse goes with Festus for the appointment, in his church suit and best
shoes. The doctor says a lot of things, not that Jesse could understand any of it, but he sounds positive, and he suggests
a treatment programme.
True to form, the treatment doesn't go to plan, there's barely any change in Festus. He smiles
more, maybe. But Jesse keeps the smile on his own face, more for Festus than anyone else, and goes back to wrestling with
him. It hurts, why can't Festus just be better. He'd rather not go back to wrestling, he dreams of cattle farming every night,
but it had to be done, it keeps the wages rolling in, and they'll just have to go to a better doctor next time.
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