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Which Brother Loved the Other More?
I worked for four years as a crime reporter in Stockton, California.
One night a detective told me about his latest homicide, a new twist on the Cain and Abel theme.
It involved two brothers named Frank and Jessie – just like the James brothers.
This Frank and Jessie had been South Stockton junkies for years, in and out of jail and prison, perpetually on parole or probation.
This night Frank was just out on parole, staying with Jessie, and they’d gotten high.
As the night wore on, the subject came up of who loved the other more, who had helped the other in his time of greatest need.
Frank, just out and perhaps feeling vulnerable, insisted he’d helped Jessie more.
No, retorted Jessie, remember that time … . And he went on with that one time, you know, when Frank was out on parole or something and he’d opened his house to him when he had no other place to go. Jessie surely loved Frank more.
Frank said no, remember that other time. Frank had been easily more forthcoming with the love when Jessie was in direst need.
And so it went, and as it went, it got heated.
Soon the brothers were yelling at each other. Then cursing. Then facing off, pushing and grabbing each other. They fell on the floor, grappling, punching each other.
And in the middle of it Jessie found a hammer. And with it, he beat Frank to death, thus winning the argument of which brother loved the other more. Last I heard, he's doing 15 years to life.
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