Related by Marriage: Uncle Benny

Mr. Irene's Mom was the youngest of five children born to Anna and Stanley. Aunt M was the eldest; the three middle children died. The death of the three children speaks to life in the early twentieth century, when there were no antibiotics, and the danger of death could be a sniffle away. It's no wonder that Mr. Irene's Mom still says, "Oh no!" each time someone sneezes.

The second child and the only son, Benny, was three years younger than Aunt M. Benny had a wonderful pet dog, "Sporty." Sporty bonded only to Benny. Benny was an active boy. One afternoon, he ran out to the playground, and a stray, stockyards dog bit him. Benny returned home to show his mother, Anna, the wound. The wound became infected. Anna took Benny to the hospital. Doctors admitted Benny. In the hospital, Benny developed sepsis.

Benny lingered in the hospital, but there were no drugs with which to treat him. One afternoon, Sporty howled. Anna looked at the family and said, "Benny has died." After the family buried Benny, Sporty refused to leave Benny's room. He wouldn't eat. Shortly thereafter, Sporty died, too.

When I think about that story, I remember the movie, "My Dog Skip."

Bridgeport, Chicago, 1927. Aunt M (Martha) poses with her younger brother, Benny. He died three years later.