Jack Brackitt
Copyright © 2003
Copyright © 2003
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance between the characters in this book and real person(s), living or dead, is purely coincidental. Any resemblance to any place(s) and entity(ies) is purely coincidental. There is no real connection whatsoever at all.
Copyright © 2003 by the Richmond Heights, MO native whose character is Jack Brackitt. All Rights Reserved.For the print version: No part of Mom Letters may be reprinted, re-keyed, distributed, and/or sold.
For the PDF version: The person who has rightfully received this is allowed to print one physical copy for individual reading by him or her. Otherwise, no part of Mom Letters may be reproduced, distributed, posted on a website, and/or sold.
All copyrights and trademarks belong to their respective owners. For Dad.Acknowledgements
Acknowledgements
Thanking everyone would almost be a book in itself. It would fill many pages,
and I would still miss a lot of people.
So, if you have a question about who should be thanked for what, could you email me at brackitt@yahoo.com. You’ll receive a response, and – depending on the circumstances – I’ll probably put the answer up on the book’s website: http://www.geocities.com/brackitt. My plan is to make the website a timely source of information about Mom Letters.
Table of ContentsC OPYRIGHT © 2003 ......................................................................................................... 2
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS..................................................................................................... 4
TABLE OF CONTENTS....................................................................................................... 5
CHARACTER LIST BY CIRCLE............................................................................................ 9
1.1 T IMELINE................................................................................................................. 10
1.2 ANDY AT SIX MONTHS.............................................................................................. 11
1.3 NEW CAR STORY...................................................................................................... 12
1.4 MORNING................................................................................................................. 16
1.5 DREW BRACKITT PROFILE........................................................................................ 18
1.6 MUSIC...................................................................................................................... 21
1.7 SCANDINAVIAN FURNITURE SHOPPING..................................................................... 23
1.8 SUPERMARKET......................................................................................................... 25
1.9 CHICAGO PROFILE: DIMENSIONS............................................................................. 28
2.1 T IMELINE................................................................................................................. 33
2.2 ANDY AT SEVEN MONTHS......................................................................................... 35
2.3 GOODBYE TO THE FAMILY HOME ............................................................................. 36
2.4 CLOTHES.................................................................................................................. 41
2.5 ANDY’S DAY............................................................................................................ 43
2.6 FOOD PREPARATION................................................................................................. 45
2.7 DAY IN COURT ......................................................................................................... 48
2.8 TV ........................................................................................................................... 50
3.1 T IMELINE................................................................................................................. 58
3.2 ANDY AT EIGHT MONTHS ......................................................................................... 59
3.3 CIRCLE UPDATE ....................................................................................................... 60
3.4 HYGIENE.................................................................................................................. 62
3.5 MOM’S MARCH VISIT............................................................................................... 64
3.6 CAR STORIES............................................................................................................ 65
3.7 QUICK SHOP............................................................................................................. 68
3.8 TOYS........................................................................................................................ 71
4.1 T IMELINE................................................................................................................. 73
4.2 ANDY AT NINE MONTHS........................................................................................... 74
4.3 CIRCLE UPDATE ....................................................................................................... 75
4.4 JIMMY’S BIRTHDAY.................................................................................................. 76
4.5 JIMMY STORIES ........................................................................................................ 77
4.6 EASTER.................................................................................................................... 79
4.7 HOUSEWORK............................................................................................................ 83
4.8 RYAN’S CAST........................................................................................................... 84
4.9 SCHOOL ................................................................................................................... 86
4.10 ST. LOUIS PROFILE: LAND .................................................................................... 89
5.1 T IMELINE................................................................................................................. 94
5.2 ANDY AT 10 MONTHS............................................................................................... 97
5.3 CIRCLE UPDATE ....................................................................................................... 98
5.4 PARK...................................................................................................................... 100
5.5 LANGUAGE ............................................................................................................ 104
5.6 MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND.................................................................................... 105
5.7 HEALTH................................................................................................................. 108
5.8 CHICAGO PROFILE: TONE...................................................................................... 110
6.1 T IMELINE............................................................................................................... 119
6.2 ANDY AT 11 MONTHS............................................................................................. 120
6.3 CIRCLE UPDATE ..................................................................................................... 121
6.4 AL BRACKITT PROFILE........................................................................................... 122
6.5 FOOD ..................................................................................................................... 130
6.6 TRIP TO BOYSANGIRLS AMUSEMENT PARK ........................................................... 133
6.7 MONEY.................................................................................................................. 136
6.8 TRIP TO STOUGHTON, WI ...................................................................................... 137
6.9 TECHNOLOGY ........................................................................................................ 140
6.10 TRIP TO LAKE ZURICH AND FREEPORT, IL........................................................... 142
7.1 T IMELINE............................................................................................................... 145
7.2 ANDY AT 12 MONTHS............................................................................................. 147
7.3 CIRCLE UPDATE ..................................................................................................... 148
7.4 ANDY’S BIRTHDAY................................................................................................. 149
7.5 BIRTH OF ANDY..................................................................................................... 150
7.6 DOUG BRACKITT PROFILE...................................................................................... 156
7.7 SUMMER DAYS....................................................................................................... 163
7.8 TRIP TO VIRTUACTION AMUSEMENT PARK ........................................................... 164
7.9 CHICAGO PROFILE: THE LOOP............................................................................... 166
7.10 RYAN’S FLIGHT TO GRANDMA’S.......................................................................... 173
7.11 JULY 4TH WEEKEND .............................................................................................. 176
8.1 T IMELINE............................................................................................................... 178
8.2 ANDY AT 13 MONTHS............................................................................................. 179
8.3 CIRCLE UPDATE ..................................................................................................... 180
8.4 TRIP TO ST. VALENTINE’S CASTLE........................................................................ 181
8.5 COMPUTER............................................................................................................. 183
8.6 CHAMPAIGN WEDDING........................................................................................... 184
8.7 GAMES................................................................................................................... 187
8.8 MOM’S AUGUST VISIT............................................................................................ 190
8.9 READING................................................................................................................ 192
8.10 ST. LOUIS PROFILE: LIVING ................................................................................ 193
8.11 GRIMBO BRACKITT PROFILE ................................................................................ 198
9.1 T IMELINE............................................................................................................... 201
9.2 ANDY AT 14 MONTHS............................................................................................. 202
9.3 CIRCLE UPDATE ..................................................................................................... 203
9.4 KAREN’S BIRTHDAY............................................................................................... 204
9.5 KAREN STORIES ..................................................................................................... 205
9.6 TRIP TO VEITH ISLAND, MI.................................................................................... 206
9.7 VEITH ISLAND TOUR .............................................................................................. 212
9.8 CORRESPONDENCE WITH SCOTT RUSH................................................................... 215
9.9 TRIPS TO INDIANAPOLIS AND GALENA................................................................... 218
9.10 TELEPHONE.......................................................................................................... 222
9.11 CHICAGO PROFILE: READ L ABOUT IT................................................................. 225
10.1 T IMELINE............................................................................................................. 229
10.2 ANDY AT 15 MONTHS........................................................................................... 230
10.3 CIRCLE UPDATE ................................................................................................... 231
10.4 RYAN’S BIRTHDAY............................................................................................... 232
10.5 RYAN STORIES ..................................................................................................... 233
10.6 MOM PROFILE...................................................................................................... 236
10.7 DRINK.................................................................................................................. 242
10.8 HALLOWEEN........................................................................................................ 243
10.9 WRESTLING ......................................................................................................... 245
10.10 MEMORIES......................................................................................................... 247
10.11 CHICAGO PROFILE: STRUCTURES...................................................................... 250
11.1 T IMELINE............................................................................................................. 257
11.2 ANDY AT 16 MONTHS........................................................................................... 258
11.3 CIRCLE UPDATE ................................................................................................... 259
11.4 SAM BRACKITT PROFILE ...................................................................................... 260
11.5 BAPTISM.............................................................................................................. 267
11.6 HOUSE ................................................................................................................. 271
11.7 THANKSGIVING.................................................................................................... 273
11.8 VCR .................................................................................................................... 275
11.9 TRIP TO ORLANDO ............................................................................................... 277
11.10 RESTAURANT..................................................................................................... 282
11.11 DAD PROFILE ..................................................................................................... 286
12.1 T IMELINE............................................................................................................. 293
12.2 ANDY AT 17 MONTHS........................................................................................... 294
12.3 CIRCLE UPDATE ................................................................................................... 295
12.4 CHRISTMAS STORIES............................................................................................ 296
12.5 CHICAGO PROFILE: FOOD.................................................................................... 300
12.6 FAMILY PHOTO..................................................................................................... 304
12.7 BEDTIME.............................................................................................................. 306
12.8 NEW YEAR’S EVE................................................................................................ 308
13.1 I NTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 310
13.2 WHO.................................................................................................................... 312
13.3 WHAT.................................................................................................................. 323
13.4 WHEN.................................................................................................................. 329
13.5 WHERE ................................................................................................................ 329
13.6 WHY.................................................................................................................... 330
Character list by circle
The families are shown in age order, and the circles are in alphabetical order.
Immediate family Andy, b. 1998 Grimbo, b. 1986 Jack, b. 1963
Jimmy, b. 1994 Karen, b. 1961 Ryan, b. 1989 son
cat
self/copywriter son
wife/accountant son
extended family
Mutte, b. 1883
Grandma, b. 1901
Gram, b. 1903
Grandad, b. 1903
Grandpa, b. 1911
Fritz Markley, b. 1929 Martha Markley, b. 1933
May-Jane Flick, b. 1936 Neil Berensen, b. 1955 Irvin Nielsen, b. 1955 Madeline Nielsen, b. 1967 Peggy Brackitt, b. 1967 Sylvester Brackitt, b. 1991 Eva Brackitt, b. 1998
Ava Brackitt, b. 1999
great-grandmother
grandmother/homemaker grandmother/homemaker grandfather/bookkeeper grandfather/doctor
father-in-law/locksmith
mother-in-law/special
education instructor
godmother/principal
brother-in-law/IT professional brother-in-law/doctor
sister-in-law/nurse
sister-in-law/nurse
bird
niece
niece
original family Al, b. 1959
Dad, b. 1934 Doug, b. 1962 Drew, b. 1970 Mom, b. 1936 Sam, b. 1960
Chicago circle Angela Freeman Brian Love
Carl Freeman Chaim Popkin
Chloe Goodfriend Chris graphic designer Louis artist David Daniels illustrator
Dorothy P. Woods writer
Elizabeth Fluornoy IT professional Emily Freeman playmate with Jimmy Evan artist
Guy Kitterman classical musician brother/lawyer
father/IT professional brother/lawyer
dog
mother/writer
brother/artist
researcher
lawyer
English instructor lawyer
art instructor
Gwen Martinez Heather Johansen Henry Russell
Jennifer Anderson Jessica