Country Dark by Chris Offutt

1954

In the early 1950s in the hollers of eastern Kentucky, to escape his family, Tucker lies about his age to join the army. His skill with knife, gun, fists, and forest survival gets him a shot at an early version of special ops. Being a short teenager means many an opponent mistakenly underestimates him. Serves a tour in Korea mostly behind enemy lines surviving by his wits and backwoods-honed skills. 

And all of a sudden, it’s over. War yesterday. Peace today. He’s mustered out, stuck on a train in San Diego headed back east. An 18yo war veteran with a fistful of medals is heading back to the hills of home, but not to his family.

A trainload of over-testosteroned soldiers was no fun so he ditches the train near Cincinnati and starts to walk home, going overland instead of following the roads. Does get a ride from a traveling salesman who is prepared for problems, but Tucker relieves him of his pistol. Next sign of people he sees is a big and powerful car with an older man driving and a teenage girl passenger – a 14yo girl at that. Dressed nice and not even a Sunday. Coming or going to either a wedding or a funeral. The man tries to force himself on the girl, which doesn’t sit well with Tucker. He’s ready to put one in the man’s belly when the girl protests – he’s family. Tucker leaves the beaten man and takes the car so he can take Rhonda home.

Weather and circumstances force them to overnight in the car. Next morning, Tucker jokingly says that having spent a night with a girl means they’ll have to get married or be shunned by the hill folk. At a gas stop, the attendant admires the car and says there’s a guy nearby who might have need for a man with such a fine and powerful car.

1964

Tucker and Rhonda have been married for 10 years. Two miscarriages. Daughter Jo is the only one with full cognitive abilities. Big Billy is the oldest, hydrocephalic, and lives in a crib. Three other daughters have their own cognitive disabilities. Tucker and Rhonda have to accept that God placed these children with them for a reason, but that doesn’t protect Rhonda from depression. 

That guy who needed a driver is Beanpole, a fat bootlegger. Tucker drives liquor and ‘shine to buyers in Ohio. He’s Beanpole’s best driver. But in this business, one can’t be too careful. You learn to smoke with your left hand freeing up your right in case you have to draw down on friend or foe. 

A State social worker is making a call on Rhonda to see what she needs to help with her children. Hattie has been checking in on Rhonda for some time, but this time her supervisor, Dr. Marvin, decides to accompany her. After maybe 15 minutes, he decides that the four children need to be in a state home. Hattie disagrees. Dr. Marvin they leave to start the process as soon as possible. When Rhonda tells Tucker, the news doesn’t sit well and he takes off after them, spotting them at a roadside diner where Marvin is trying to have his way with Hattie. Tucker stopped it from happening to Rhonda and he's going to make sure Hattie is protected, too.

1965

A new man running for office is promising to crack down on bootleggers. Beanpole knows his livelihood is at risk. Offers a deal to Tucker. Take the fall and spend a few months in prison. Beanpole will take care of Rhonda and give Tucker $10K upon release. Not long after his arrival to prison, some bikers from a Dayton gang take him on. More people to underestimate a short backwoods guy. The law adds years 5 years to Tucker’s sentence. He was lucky, though, to see another son born before his incarceration. White hair, like his dad, shone brightly in the sun. Tucker names him Shiny.

1971

Tucker’s released and isn’t happy the state took his kids. Shiny is a normal boy and Jo is dealing with becoming a woman. Beanpole is trying to avoid paying Tucker the promised $10K. A hornet's nest near the house only adds another obstacle to Tucker.

Here’s the deal. When an MRB fav and member of our elite Power Rotation of authors (Charlie Stella) recommends a book, it behoove you to listen to what he says. Chris Offutt is the author of a couple books of short stories and some non-fiction books about his own upbringing in Kentucky. Has also done a few screenplays for TV (Treme, True Blood). But according to the jacket blurb, it’s been 20 years since his last book. But he's back. Pray that it won't be even one year before his next. Holy crap, this guy can write.

A sparse but eloquent story about a hard life that adheres to a simple truism: people don’t how lucky they are until bad luck comes along. There are good people and bad people. The rest are in between. How one handles the bad luck dictates if they become good people or bad people. “War and prison had taught him that sides don’t really exist, that everyone was eventually caught in the middle of something.”

Pay attention when Charlie Stella says to read a book. He’s never steered me wrong. This was perhaps his best recommendation. I don’t keep a Top 10 book list, but if I did, this one would be on it and I seriously doubt anything will come along to shoulder this one off that list.

Find it. Read it. This one will stay with you. 

ECD