Ava's Man
May 22, 2009 at 10:12 a.m.
Ava's Man
By Jill Williams
Rick Bragg has written other stories, but he says this is the one his readers demanded he write. This is the one he really needed to write, in order to connect with his Grandfather, Ava's man, who died before he was born. In Rick Bragg's family, you don't talk much about the people who've gone before. It may be years or even decades before you do. The reason? It's just too painful to remember how much you miss them. So when he finally got his relatives to spill their stories about Charlie, he wasn't disappointed. Neither will you be.
Charlie Bundrum was many things; amongst them was husband, father, provider, protector, storyteller, bare-knuckle brawler, and many a person's whole world. Charlie and Ava were from very different backgrounds, but together they created one where the children were safe and flourished as much as they can in the lean times that seemed to follow the Bundrums around from city to city. The Great Depression era certainly affected many. Living in rented houses, Charlie followed the work wherever it led. Many times he came home and they packed up everything they owned into their truck, always following the jobs. Charlie was skilled at roofing, and that was what he did most often to earn a living. But on the side, Charlie made good money selling his own brand of "likker" and was able to evade the Law most of the time.
Some of the stories about Charlie depict how he protected his family, time and again, from danger. They even thought he chased the storms away. Always looking out for his family, Charlie was a solid foundation for Ava and the children. Without him, they would be a bit lost. He loved to sit with the Grandchildren and whenever the house became too quiet, he'd go fetch some of his grandkids to play with. Charlie also liked to imbibe some of his moonshine, and many a night Ava worried about him. When they had a donkey, it would buck him off near the house and sometimes Ava would drag him inside. Sometimes she wouldn't. Always she was relieved he was home.
I wouldn't want to live in the harsh times that Charlie and Ava survived. They had eight children, but one died as a baby, and it would have been very tough to keep your chin up in those years. I guess their hardships make it an even more inspiring story. For who among us, in today's age of instant gratification, could go without and make so much from so little, as Ava and Charlie did? And which of us will leave such strong memories with those who love us?