Hi Franklin, I was able to buy one of those cheap kids metal detectors since, that was the only one I could afford.
The thing is that while my dad was serving our country in Viet Nam the uncle that is now the sentinel built his house directly across the road from daddy's property - even building his house where the porch would hang over ours (which, I believe is encroachment and also a calculated move by him for future use.) Daddy was upset; but didn't make too very much of a fuss over it since, he did not want to upset grandma. This uncle - I guess I'll call him "T" for traitor so we can keep these men straight while writing and reading. So, uncle T went about cleaning out the land between his home and ours so he can see what's going on over on our side.
While I was cleaning up the land after the storm I was bent over picking up some trash left by my brother and had been bent over for awhile when the feeling of being watched came over me. I stood up, turned and looked directly at him to let him know I knew he was there and then proceeded to clean up more.
So, I know that he watches, he's been watching all these years. So, I've taken that metal detector over there only once and tried to use it by keeping my body between the detector and my uncle because, I didn't want him to know what I was doing. I didn't want him to come over after I left to plunder as I do not trust him at all. The detector that I have is too short for me and even though it does beep a bit here and there it's not really strong enough to do the job, I think. Besides, I'd have to have some help digging. I broke my back and neck in a HS sporting accident as a young teen and I'm not sure how far I'd be able to dig on my own and leaving a half dug spot is not a good idea.
I suppose I should tell you that the land that I'm talking about was split up into 3 long ago. The front part with the road cut into the hill with the signs and symbols was left to my granddaddy's sister. The back part by the river where I believe the booty was brought in was left to granddaddy's brother and the land in the middle was left to granddaddy.
Granddaddy had 5 sons - my father the oldest. The part of the land that was suppose to be daddy's sits right smackdab in the middle of the whole lot of land. I've heard the brothers of my father all wanted the part that was his and I think this is just one of the reasons that uncle T build his house where he did and why he cleared all the small trees and underbrush between our land and his.
This is actually a longer story than can be told all at once; but in a nutshell after my dad dies, my grandfather grieved himself to death, uncle T had talked them into letting him be grandma's executor. I read the will and it stood as I'd always heard them talking - but granddaddy's second son (we will call this man Uncle "G" because he was a good man too) mysteriously got shoved off the top of a building where he was working and then uncle T took his place.
While laying on his deathbed granddaddy called for Uncle G's oldest son and tried to give him all his property and he'd not take it since, that's not what we've been taught all these years. Granddaddy sent for me and by the time I got to him - he was doped up on meds. He did his best to try to talk to me; but, I couldn't understand his words. I told him, "It'll be ok granddaddy, it'll be ok." Soon he fell asleep and soon after uncle T showed up and told me I could go back home. I didn't know it then and we were the only two he asked for - after he offered the land to my boy cousin I think he was trying to do the same to me. I think since we were the oldest of his oldest two and we are both fair folks that we'd do the right thing by other family members.
Unfortunately, granddaddy's will disappeared from the courthouse, grandma's and the lawyers office. (I think if there were any diamonds or other treasure to be found I'd use it to prove the deeds done by uncle T.)
There's more and I hope I don't sound like a crazy person...
