The Dying Fry Cook
Not a “pretty” painting and it’s never has been shown much until its recent inclusion in a current show. The young man has tremendous baggage. Pursed lips conceal bad teeth. The blue of his stained “fast food” shirt squabbles with the blue of his coat. He works two jobs. The inexpensive earring is a small conceit, His disease is held to be his own fault by most and it’s wide spread and untreated where he lives in West Virginia. Simply put it is the kind of poverty that affects the working poor.
I carry the words of a woman from that area who spoke on the subject and its stigma during the Great Depression; abandoned by her husband she said, “Here I am. Dirty..smelly, with no proper underwear ‘neath this rotting dress. The stench of my teeth makes me sick. They’re decaying, but they’ll never be fixed. That takes money.
Poverty is dirt. You may say, in your spick and span surroundings, “Anybody can be clean!” Let me explain housekeeping without money. For breakfast, I give my children grits with no margarine, or cornbread made without eggs or oleo. What dishes there are, I wash in cold water. No soap. Even the cheapest soap is used for the baby’s makeshift diapers.
Look at these cracked, red hands. Every day I have to decide whether I can bear to put these burning, sore hands into that cold water and strong soap. Why don’t I use hot water? Hot water is a luxury. We don’t have luxuries.
Poverty is staying up all night when it is cold, watching our feeble fire; a stray spark would ignite our newspaper walls letting us die in the flames. In the summer, poverty is letting gnats and flies drink my baby’s tears.”
The fry cook came to my attention because of his kindness to another and painting him was a catharsis. He was kind and generous within his limited means to a young woman who had lost her twin two year old sons in a house fire there after Christmas some years ago. A very personal hero because the woman was my daughter and the boys were my grandsons.
Acrylic on linen covered panel
BarbBarcikKeith, 8 months ago
Tom, you have my sympathies for your loss ..
There is so much emotion in his face.. thank you for posting..
F Magdalene Au..., 8 months ago
Mr. Akers, I passed this painting up three times going through the recent art galleries. I’m happy I came back and I’m happy I read the commentary.
I’m always drawn in by eyes painted but perhaps its the expression on his face of anger, weariness, certainly tired that stayed in my mind. Trust me when I say that poverty isn’t ever pretty. How could you possibly paint a pretty picture of desperation? What you’ve done is accurately portray what a man looks like when he has so very little. You’ve done a good job in painting what poverty looks like on a man’s face.
Austin
Helen Bascom, 8 months ago
There are no words to express how this has made me feel. I am crying as I write this. It is terrible and beautiful at once. Thank you for sharing this with all of us.
Jazzyjane, 8 months ago
I also passed over this painting. I don’t know what drew me in. What a tragic story in so many ways. How we judge so easily without REALLY looking or thinking and don’t look below the surface. Your work creates(to me) a sense of tihs young man being resigned to his lot in life. His eyes also have a fierce light that perhaps tells of a bitterness at the lot he has been cast. Beautiful capture.
ozjami, 8 months ago
very sad ,and our sympathies go out to u
StacyLee, 8 months ago
I’m so sorry. This is a lesson to us all.
aphoto4you, 8 months ago
awwwwwwwwwwwwww this is touchy…and sad….for me this brings tears in my eyes….
Great job painting…but true story behind this painting is deep….so sorry….Thank u for sharing
midzing, 8 months ago
very powerful and moving,,,
Deri Dority, 8 months ago
My heart goes out to you in the loss of your grandsons. Such a moving and powerful image. Such an important message to share, not only during the Holidays, but year round.
Henk Stolk, 8 months ago
Pure sadness is the feeling left
Judith Oppenhe..., 8 months ago
there but for the grace of G-d …
demon, 8 months ago
Thankyou Helen fo the heads up…and to you Thomas what a stirring tribute and such a beautiful yet heartwrenching story…Goes to show just how lucky a lot of us are and the hard times good people still have to suffer…Our communities seem to do more to help than our governments do…
Daniel Rayfield
,
8 months ago
I am so sorry to hear this ! I also am 27 years old and losing my teeth “I know how he feels its sickening” where is he from? in australia its just been made available for chronic dental to be covered by medicare! I am currently pursuing this as I cannot smile nor show happiness anymore, as he would know thats why we love our children because THEY dont judge you they just love you for who you are.Its so upsetting to hear but in another way I now feel not alone…. thank you for bringing this to our attention is there anything we can do? I cant spare much but my blessings are with you my friend as I do know to be so young and judged for something past our control this poverty is rediculous and the most talented of us seem to go on not asking for anything , good luck and best wishes
Melissa Vowell, 8 months ago
wow. Like Helen, I have tears in my eyes. A beautiful, beautiful painting of obviously a wonderful man. My sympathy and goes to you, and my love to him.
MzSardonicus, 8 months ago
I don’t know what to say. What a touching and moving story.
Patricia L. Ba..., 8 months ago
This is the tip of the iceberg. It’s astounding how many more stories of this sort are out there. We absolutely have to change things with the next election.
Al Bourassa, 8 months ago
The timing of this story touches some chords deeply. Six days ago, a former fry cook, on an outing with his two gorgeous daughters, his new girlfriend and her son, were killed by a drunk driver in a cement truck while sitting at a red light.
His ex-wife is a lovely lady and a waitress who gives us hugs every week when we visit that restaurant. She has also lost two children.
The whole town is in shock and grieving over it.
Our hearts go out to all those that have any suffering.
Our hearts go out to you on the loss of your grandchildren.
Your young fry cook has a good heart and we wish him improved health and good fortune.
Peace Mitchell, 8 months ago
Thanks for sharing such a personal, heartfelt story.
gypsyin37, 8 months ago
I am so sorry for you. my prayers and my families prayers go out to you. Makes you think, “I don’t have it so bad.” Looking at other peoples pain makes yours not so painful. Beautiful painting. God Bless.
Woodie, 8 months ago
You must have tremendous courage to put all your effort into painting this and being reminded every second of what happened to your grandchildren.May God bless you
Neil
Sean Farragher, 8 months ago
thank you for sharing,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Angel312, 8 months ago
I have no words that could possibly help you, but you have already begun to help yourself by sharing this story and this painting with us. Bearing your soul to others who don’t know the pain that you must go through, and pain that I cannot imagine, for my grand children are my source of inspiration and joy many times when no-one else can get through to me. God Bless You for sharing and I truly hope that you can find peace in knowing that those little angels are now in heaven looking down on you. This is the second story of loss that I have read on this board today, and I must tell you that it is very courageous of you to tell this and it is very humbling for me to hear your words.
Gail(angel312)
jerry alcantara, 8 months ago
what a very nice work,everything is good in this work!
Thomas Akers, 8 months ago
Thank you very much, Jerry for the great compliment!
Wegwoman, 8 months ago
Beautiful work. Tremendous pain and peace. Thank you for sharing.
Helene Kippert, 8 months ago
Your painting and story moved me to tears – thank you for sharing
Thomas Akers, 8 months ago
I just privately answered some kind remarks regarding this painting when I thought that it might be better to more openly comment:
I been very touched by the remarks of all, and you have my heartfelt gratitude. It is Christmas Day here now as I write, and it occurs that there are many like this man at work today in some unhappy job for the sake of love and necessity. Someone said, “The rich own the poor; because they created them.” and it is true enough.
AnneNorskog, 8 months ago
Dear Thomas,
I wrote you an e-mail concerning this work some time back. I did not know the extent of the pain that was involved in the creation of this masterwork. My twin sons turn 25 tomorrow. It would more than break my heart should anything happen to either of them, let alone both of them. The greatest sin anywhere on this green earth is to be poor…if a person has money and position, they can (and do) get away with anything that pleases them. I will say a prayer for you and They Dying Fry Cook. God Bless and Keep You.
Anne Norskog
ginnymac, 8 months ago
Thankyou, for having the courage to go on.Wonderfully painted and said.
Alice McMahon ..., 8 months ago
You are a great man for painting this great man. Thank you.
loragarcelon, 5 months ago
This is very touching…An act of kindness can go far beyond what we imagine.
Nancy Vice, 2 months ago
this is a wonderful painting of a hero not known to many but by the hearts he has touched. I find it difficult to convince myself that his expression is solely his and not some of the artist’s gaze coming through, looking out, at the artisit to console him, to help him to understand what has happened.
Thomas you and your daughter and all who are concerned, have my deepest of sympathy for your loss.