"Bad Boys" by Jane Satchell McAllister

 – sibling rivalry, rowdiness, revolt, and retribution

Four brothers survived their childhood antics by the grace of God and parental prayers.

Jane Satchell McAllister's writings draw inspiration from the wide variety of people and places she encounters, from her home base in Davie County, North Carolina to rich adventures across our country and abroad. She has co-authored two Images of America books through Arcadia Publishing prior to serving as the director of the county's public library for nine years. Her current main writing project involves compiling her family’s stories so that their descendants can better understand and enjoy their heritage.  

Jane Satchell McAllister

Author’s Talk

As the middle child, I had a front row seat to a great many of my brothers’ childhood exploits, but at family gatherings as adults, many more tales of adventures and misadventure have emerged, leaving me often amazed that all my siblings made it safely through. My niece Samantha once shared with us that when she arrived in high school, decades after the five of us had graduated, and teachers would call out students’ names, she often got asked whether she was kin to “any of the Satchells,” to which she somewhat reluctantly admitted that she was indeed Dick Satchell’s daughter. I suppose we were just a wee bit memorable. 

I don’t think the boys set out to be malicious or destructive, but sometimes it was hard to believe otherwise given the events. Gladly, I can report that my brothers managed to grow up, complete their education, be productively employed, raise their own families, and retire. As adults, we often reflect on how incredibly fortunate we were to have the parents we did, who somehow managed to deal with the endless situations and emergencies brought to their attention with discipline, patience, and always love. Though it must be admitted that Mom frequently wondered aloud, “what hath God wrought?” 

I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed crafting it. And of course, a huge thank you to my rowdy brothers for their contributions.