Out of the Ashes | A Short Story

After extensive research on the history of my family through the use of ancestry.com, twelve distinct, credible sources over various topics, as well as through an interview with my grandfather who shared with me his personal experiences and insight into our family history, I am now nearing the end of my project. However, during my interview with my grandpa I came upon an interesting topic. According to my research on ancestry.com, my great-great-grandpa, Robert Shotton (the grandfather of my grandfather), was the individual who originally came to America on the Shotton side of the family and passed away in roughly 1902, about two years after my great-grandpa (my grandfather’s dad) was born. However, when asked about his grandfather, despite never knowing him, my grandpa says that there are no records of Robert’s death in 1902 (which is true, on ancestry.com I did not find a record of his death, only an estimation). As it turns out, nobody for sure knows what happened to him, just that he disappeared. My grandfather went on to explain that many people in our family believed him to have run off from his family with another women, some do in deed believe he had died. What my grandfather did know, however, was that Robert Shotton had a particular problem with gambling. He was known to place bets on about anything he could, and he would play cards any chance he had. My grandpa then went on to state that “back in those days somebody could commit a murder and get away with it too easy, we’re talking like 1900.” It is with this information, along with the facts from my research, and fiction to fill in the gaps, I will construct a possible answer for what happened to my long lost great-great-grandfather. The individual in the image above holds no direct relation to my family, yet shares my last name and was a coal miner in the same location that my family originated from. Therefore, he will serve as the face of my ancestral family and represent my great-great-grandfather in the following story.

…

The year is 1902. 52 year old Robert “Rob” Shotton is finishing a drink and playing a few hands of Blackjack at his favorite bar as is usual following his shift in the mines all day long. On any good day with the cards Rob could “turn a day’s pay into a month’s,” as he liked to say. On any bad day he could just as easily “turn a month’s to a day’s.” This was a saying he did not prefer so much, yet it seemed much more common than the former, for him it was just “the name of the game.”

On this particular day it was worse than usual. Rob had a great day a work, earning a promotion as station manager with an upfront pay raise. Now, for any one else with a wife and two kids at home, one of which happened to be a new 2 year old son, this would be a time to go home and celebrate. But for Rob, more money to wager just meant more money to win. He figured after he doubled his pay for the day then he’d go home and break the news…or maybe tripled it. Well, things weren’t working out that way for him today. Despite feeling lucky coming in, Rob was having a hard time breaking even to his regular pay, but he refused to go home with less money than he started today, so he was going to keep at it till he got his money back…or maybe a few bucks more for another drink or two.

…

The year is 1881. 31 year old Robert Shotton shivers in the late October cold as the line boarding the Northern, the Ellis Island bound immigration ship, moves ever so slowly forward.

“What the hell is taking them so long? I’m bettin it’s dark out before we’re on that bloody boat.” Robert mumbles to the man waiting ahead of him.

“Just checking everyone’s ticket I’m sure,” the man replied. “My son crossed over a few months back and in a letter of his mentioned how once you’ve got your ticket, everything takes longer till you’re standing in the streets of America. Then things speed up real quick.”

“Yeah I bet. Things don’t seem to ever speed up too much when you work the mines.” Snorted Robert. This seemed true enough as while down in the hole it was impossible to know what time it was. It seemed as though time itself could not reach that deep into the mountains and everything remained the same, forever. You go down for your daily work and until you come back out again you aren’t sure what day it is anymore.

“You got a light?” The man asked.

“No. I don’t smoke, I already spend all my time with coal-dust down my lungs. I don’t need anything else in there.” Replied Robert.

“Fair enough.” Nodded the man.

…

1902. Robert is now down to his last few dollars for the day and is desperate to pull in some money. What started with a carefree game with hopes of pulling in extra cash combined with his pay raise in order to go home and be a hero among his family, as well as justify his gambling habit, has turned into a struggle to avoid going home to his family completely empty handed…again.

Robert noticed the older man opposite him at the table had been raking in all kinds of money all day long. That man had at won at least Rob’s paycheck today and maybe more. Why couldn’t I have had his luck today? Robert thought to himself. Despite being down to nearly nothing, however, Robert thought he could win it all back with one hand. He just needed a chance.

…

1881. Now on the boat Robert stands near the front watching the sun begin to go down over the water.

“Glad you didn’t bet on it being dark, huh?” Came a voice behind him. Robert turned to see the man from the line grinning with a cigarette between his lips.

“You ever stop smoking?” Robert shot back, “It’s a bad habit. Could get you killed some say.”

“I’ll tell you what’s a bad habit,” the man offered, “being an ambitious gambling man. Smoking might get me killed. But betting the wrong person at the wrong time is a sure way.”

“Yeah, well as usual I’ll take my chances. But thanks.” Replied Robert before turning back around.

“As will I.” Said the smoking man. “I’m sure you’ll be fine though.” He finished as he turned and walked away.

…

1902. This was his chance. He had the perfect hand to win back some of that money, maybe more. He didn’t have the money to bet but was sure he could not lose this hand. When asked to place his bet, instead of offering the only dollar Rob had left, he shouted out “$200!” Of course he didn’t have that kind of money on him, but he knew the man across from him did and he knew he could win it all. When asked the same question, the man across the table simply called the bet without any hesitation. Robert was surprised the man was so willing to gamble all he had won today, but he didn’t care he would take it from him in a heartbeat. Then came the moment of truth. The dealer asked all parties to reveal their cards. Robert, as confidant as ever flipped his cards to reveal his first hand adding up to 20 he’s had all day. He could be beat, but it was unlikely. Yet today did not turn out to be the day for last minute miracles. The man revealed his cards to have a perfect 21 and simply said “Blackjack.” in a very cool tone. Robert was devastated. Now, instead of walking home a champion, he owed this man $200 for which he did not own himself. He panicked, not knowing what to do. He couldn’t afford this debt and support his family right now. He stood up and reached into his pocket as if to pull out his money, then if an instant made a dash for the door and fled the bar, leaving the man sitting at the table.

Now far from the bar or which Robert vowed he could not ever return, he began his long walk back home for the night. This was the latest he had been out and now coming home with no money to show for it he could only imagine what was in store for him. He was realistically worried Sarah might actually leave him for this. He wouldn’t blame her. Walking up the street he moved to the side to allow the wagon rolling up from behind him to pass. Instead what he heard was a man call out to him, “You still owe me $200.”

Paralyzed, Robert turned around to face the old man from the bar get down from his wagon and begin walking to him.

“Look,” Rob began, “I don’t have that money. I was desperate to win what I lost back for my family. I have a wife and two kids, ya know? I wasn’t trying to rob you.” He pleaded.

“I understand all that,” said the old man as he reached for a cigarette, “tell ya what. Just give me a light and you don’t have to pay me a dime. We’ll be all square you and I.”

“Well, uhh.” stuttered Robert. “I don’t smoke. See being in the mines all day messed my lungs up and I don’t want to make it worse.”

“Fair enough.” Said the man right before shooting Robert down. The man tossed Robert in the back of his wagon and lit his cigarette himself before turning the wagon around and heading back the other way, right out of town.

“You took your chances.”