There is one character in Silent Ties whose existence is discussed once and never again. J.P. and Sara had a younger brother. He was the son of James and Emily Tucker. After his birth he was whisked away and never heard of again. I purposely left his life in question.
The only known facts are he was born alive and with dark skin. His birth divulged the secret of Grandma Em’s heritage. It brought to light the deception perpetrated by Grandma Em and her parents. The event changed the relationship between Granddaddy Tucker and Grandma Em forever. It also placed the future of J.P. and Sara at risk.
Did Grandma Em grieve the loss of her son? We don’t know. Granddaddy Tucker did not fight to keep his son. He did not appear to provide for his future. He was not included as a member of the family. The child was forgotten because of the color of his skin.
We heard about how it affected the white family. But what happened to the child? Was his life of value or was he something to be discarded?
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Santayana