thesis

In Fathers, Sons, and Brothers, Brett Lott seems to present his lifetime memories in an order that showcases his progression from youth towards adult life. Lott presents his information in this order so that the reader can see where the roles came from that Lott took on as he grew older, and so the reader can try to assume the roles that Lott’s children may take on, as they too grow old.

The saying, “the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree,” describes the roles that the men of the Lott family take on, and it is these roles that are passed on like a baton in the Olympics from generation to generation. Bret Lott without a doubt gets most, if not all of his characteristics from his father. In the opening essay, In the Garage, Bret Lott describes his father as being “a man with few words, and even fewer tools.” (3). Like dad, Bret describes himself as a soft-spoken person, who also possesses very few tools. “There sits my toolbox, the small grey plastic one; inside it a couple of screwdrivers, a tape measure, a small socket set. That’s it for my tools. Like father, like son.” (10). Having dad be so affiliated with Royal Crown Cola, it’s almost foreshadowed that Lott will continue to have Royal Crown be a major part of his life. Not only in his younger years, but as an Adult. In the essay Royal Crown 2, Lott goes more in depth discussing how his fathers commitment to RC cola and Lott’s father’s influence on Lott, for the most part forced Lott to also become affiliated with RC. There is a scene where Lott is explaining to a man by the name of Mr. Schenk’s, that he is the new salesman, the son of Bill Lott (Mr. Schenk’s old salesman). This image is easily the most literal display of Lott following in his father’s footsteps. Lott responds to the whole situation “I know I shocked him, this second-generation salesman from RC showing up to peddle still more soda pop.” (181). “This is a good decision, I can see myself doing this for the rest of my life.” (181). Like father, like son.

Aside from Lott’s father, his uncle was also a major influence and unlike his dad, Bret’s uncle, Lynn, was very outspoken. Lott’s tone when telling the essay of Uncle gives me the sense that Lott feels his uncle is just some hotshot who betters himself by making his father seem weak. “Uncle Lynn felt it his duty to reveal stories, reveal to me a side of my father I’d not seen…Things my dad would not tell for fear he’d look foolish.” (58). Not Lott’s father, but Lott’s uncle preaches to Lott at a young age that he must “sow your wild oats,” (55) referring to having sex at a young age and often, before the ability to do so runs out. It’s not evident that Lott took on any characteristic of his uncle, however it still doesn’t make Uncle Lynn a strong influence to Lott’s life.

After reading Fathers, Sons, and Brothers, I immediately think of the essay Allegiance. This essay probably portrays the best comparison of the relationship that Lott had to his brother Brad, and the relationship that Lott’s sons Zeb and Jacob have with each other. Bret's older brother, Brad, was quite used to getting in trouble, for instance the time he got kicked off the swimming team and was caught riding his motorcycle when he was supposed to be at practice. Being that Brad, was quite the troublemaker, Bret was forced to become pretty familiar with the phrase "swear to God you won't tell mom?"(152). Bret got very accustomed to responding to Brads request with an "I swear," and it was from that phrase alone that the allegiance between the brothers became official. Like father like son, Lott describes the image of overhearing his son Zeb, tells Jake to take an oath not to tell on him because of a certain mishap. “Jake, don’t tell Dad,” Zeb whispered, and it seemed Swear to God you won’t tell ought to be the next words I would hear.”(163).

For obvious reasons, Lott titled an essay Brothers, comparing the similarities between Lott’s brother and Lott’s sons. “That pinch was an entry into our childhood; my arm around him, our smiling, is the proof of us two surfacing, alive but not unscathed. And here are my own two boys, already embarked” (32). After witnessing Jacob slamming Zebs finger in the van door, Lott had an epiphany of his younger years as to when his brother Brad pinched his arm by the poolside of their grandparent’s pool. This is the first instance as to where the reader starts to see a resemblance as to why the book is titled Fathers, Sons, and Brothers. This gives me the sense that one day, Jacob and Zeb will witness their children perform some type of mishap and it will instead be them who recognizes the resemblances between their sons and themselves.