Living Family Archive

Roger, Gano, and Stevie Smith’s house

Stories set here

A Lost Friendship and a Lifelong LessonBernard remembers Sonny Joiner as a giggling childhood friend living with his working mother. Although Bernard doubted accusations that Sonny watched girls bathing, he chased and punched Sonny after another accusation one late-fall evening. Sonny cried without resisting, and Bernard immediately stopped in remorse. A few days later, Sonny’s mother told Bernard that Sonny had undergone surgery that very day and had fresh stitches. Bernard says the lost friendship and her warning haunted him, and he never struck anyone again.

Events here

A few days after the fight
A warning that stayed with Bernard
While Bernard was playing Kick The Can, Sonny’s mother came to the fence and told him about Sonny’s surgery, warning that he could have seriously hurt Sonny. Bernard did not answer her and says he never struck another person.

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