Axed
by kfrego
My step brother Preston was several years younger than I was. Like all younger brothers he was always anxious to accompany the older children. We had a considerable amount of freedom as to where we went. There were times when our parents allowed the younger kids to go with the older kids.
The Grass River ran through Louisville. Upstream of town the river flowed deep and slow. There were some clay banks with deep holes to provide good fishing. The best swimming hole around was just upstream of the bridge in town. About a mile above town there were nice grassy knolls in the pastures adjacent to some good fishing holes. As young teens we would fish at night and camp on the grassy knolls until the following day.
Our parents allowed Preston to go camping with me on one of the overnight trips. He was allowed near the river to fish, but there would be no swimming for him. It was his first camping trip without Mom and Dad. We gathered up all of our gear for the night. We had food, fish poles, tarps, and sleeping bags. It took two trips during the afternoon to get everything to the site. We arrived to set up our camp late in the afternoon. We spread our sleeping bags out on the tarps and rigged up our fish poles along the edge of the river. We gathered wood for a fire so we wouldn’t need to use coleman lanterns after dark. There were about six of us in camp and Preston was by far the youngest. By sunset we were ready to settle in, eat supper, and start fishing before dark. Preston was wound up like an eight day clock. He helped everyone, gathered wood, and was looking forward to starting the fire. He decided to chop some more firewood with the short handled, single bit, axe in camp. We didn’t really pay much attention to what he was doing. Preston stood a short piece of firewood on end and was splitting it with the axe. The axe glanced off the top of the wood, rotated, and hit him in the shin just below the knee. He let out a howl and grabbed his leg as he hit the ground. He was bleeding pretty good from a two inch cut on his shin. He was tough enough to stop howling and tried to hold back the tears, but his camping trip was over. We strapped a rag on his leg and I carried him home piggy back.
Preston’s first camping trip with the older kids was memorable…………..and he had the scar to prove it.
My Great Adventures.....A Journal 
he would have followed you to hell and back……bet the cut hurt but messing up in front of you was worse Been thinking about you two and so much was funny, typical brothers that need some age to like each other no matter how much they love each other….even then he was an accident just waiting to happen………I love you enough for all of us steps, Ken Frego….always have….you are the first face/person I remember
Those were the days when we didn’t dwell on things. You’ll see a couple more Preston adventures down the line. We were all one family and the only time the subject came up was to explain the name difference.
Stepbrother?? I thought half brother but he was not half anything was he.
I owe you one Cheryll. I never looked close enough to realize step and half had different meanings. Don’t recall ever using anything except step. Funny how common terminology flips things around. Preston was really one of a kind…..no half anything is right.
Ken that was not a negative……he drove you nuts wanting to follow you around……all typical brother stuff…..I saw it here with Andy and Michael…James just stayed out of the way….you were a tease and he was a hot head…..never once doubted the love and that we are ( and were) one family. I also have always known the devastation you felt with his lose….had finally become friends…….Hey….did they use you to pull me out of the hay…is that why I remember your face so clear…..choking thinking about it.
Didn’t take it as negative Linda. Can’t remember exactly how you got out of the hay. Hope you don’t choke every time you think of my face. HaHa
FYI: My first adventure taking Kristin out kind of ended the same. Except instead of a cut, we got a stern talking-to from a sheriff. Ooops. Memorable for all, though!
Those are the experiences that stay with us. Had a few with Preston.
Wow. I didn’t see that coming. Glad it made for a good story and not a lifelong injury (except the scar of course).
Hurt his pride a lot more than the knee. Both healed with no problem. Appreciate the comment.