Patrick's Corner

You've heard of Murphy's Law and even the

Peter Principle, but here's a new one: Patrick's Law. Patrick's Law, which

deserves at least equal space in the index of life, states that in large

families, the youngest gets the shortest end of the stick.

The youngest has certain traits that can last to adulthood: "His

clothing will mark him and his position in the family strata. His socks will

droop because of a lack of elasticity brought on by age and the larger ankles

of his brothers. The youngest will generally never hold an original opinion for

fear of being informed he is a klutz by at least one of his brothers. He will

always be referred to as So-and-So's little brother and will NEVER (a) get the

Sunday funnies first, (b) go anywhere without telling at least two persons

where he is going, or (c) be able to read a comic while seated on the family's

only commode."

Patrick's Corner is a collection of stories about growing up

after World War II in a world where family life, neighborhood interdependence,

and nurturing environments were the norm. The author describes how one family's

steadfast devotion to each other and their foundation of moral values helped

them surmount the challenges of poverty.

Told with the sensitivity of the "baby of the family," this

nostalgic reminiscence is full of warmth, love, growing pains, and the

struggles for survival. The author writes about his "comin' up" as

the youngest of six sons in an Irish Catholic family headed by a widowed

mother. Like most brothers, the Patrick boys fought, but more often they were

friends who talked, laughed, and shared their growing pains with each other.

Even if you have never had to wear hand-me-down clothes or been referred to

as So-and-So's little brother or sister, these stories are sure to touch your

heart.

Sean Patrick, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, lives in Fayetteville, North

Carolina, where he teaches creative writing at Fayetteville Technical Community

College. He has operated two teen group homes, served as an administrator of a

religious education program at his church, and, along with his wife, has given

lectures on parenting skills. He has written for Catholic Digest and has

also been published in The Liguorian.