First born. I am the first born and yet always second in the eyes of Big Daddy. No matter what I do, Big Daddy will always see Brick. Brick, who could do no wrong. Brick, who drinks and sulks, but is perfect to Big Daddy. Brick, who is the second born and bears no child. What is there to be jealous of? I got a wife, job and loving children. What I don’t got is Big Daddy’s attention. What is there to be jealous of? Big Mama used to love me and pay attention, but that love shrunk away as the years passed. Her belief in me went away slowly like the sand on a beach as the tide comes in. But I don’t want pity. I just want to be heard at last. This is my story and this time I will not be over shadowed by my brother.

My family is not big as one may assume. They are rich and being rich in the South equals importance. My family never lets anyone forget about their importance and power especially me. They are not mom and dad. They are Big Daddy and Big Mama. I secretly laugh whenever I hear someone outside of the family at home call them that. It is just so silly. Big Daddy is actually big. He has a pork belly that used to be fun to bounce on before Brick came along. His face is olive colored and most of the time with a sloppy grin. His ego is higher than the moon. Big Daddy’s hair turned gray but I remember a time when he had a full head of brown hair. Those silly bushy eyebrows never seemed to change though. When I was younger I used to make fun of them, calling them, ferrets. He used to laugh, such a jolly laugh. His sloppy grin aimed on me. I was their child, their joy.
Big Mama ain’t big. She is like a cucumber with a prune face. Her face used to be full of joy and love for me before Brick. Now it’s strained. Her shriveled face shows her age and it makes me sad. I constantly go back to the time when Big Mama was pregnant. She was so thrilled. Big Daddy was too, though he did not show it. He always tried to have a stoic demeanor but even the toughest people can break their tough outer wall. After Brick, I witnessed the wall crack bit by bit until the fateful day when it collapsed. Once Brick was born, Big Daddy’s face was brighter than the sun. Big Mama’s too, although tired after the ordeal. Brick was not a small baby. That is probably why Big Daddy called him Brick. He thought that boy would be stronger than all of us. Boy was he wrong.

As I grew up with Brick, I felt like the youngest sibling. He was so quick and liked to pick on me. When I was struggling in school, he was ahead and passing everything. I looked up to him, sort of. But that just wasn’t right. A little brother should look up to the bigger one, not the other way around. In grade school he was the popular, athletic one while I was the freak in the corner, reading. Freak! They actually called me that because I was actually doing something educational in school. Brick, although passing everything, did nothing at all. I used to think that he had brains, but then I found out he just had a lot of money. He paid someone for all of his answers. In grade school! I was shocked. When I told Big Daddy, he said I was just being jealous. Before Brick, Big Daddy believed everything I said. If I said the moon was made of mashed potatoes he would agree and pet my head. Big Mama, too. When I went to her, she told me that lying wouldn’t boost my grade and I had to work hard. Work hard! I read in class while my classmates picked their noses and read comics. My brother was their leader. He didn’t change very much.

In college I continued to focus on my education while others focused on the opposite sex. Although, Big Daddy and Big Mama were focused on Brick being Brick- like, they never noticed that he was not exactly like the other kids. When he was in college, there was a guy named Skipper. Brick and Skipper met at football try outs. He was a good fellow. Skipper had brains and good looks. All the girls loved him. But Skipper never seemed to notice them. He used to say that he was too focused on school and football for a relationship. The girls believed him and were sad but never stopped chasing him. He probably believed it himself. He was similar to Brick that way. He saw all but the opposite sex. One day during football practice, a cheerleader, Maggie, decided to flirt with Skipper. Ah, Margaret. She has never left me alone. In college, good ole Maggie the cat was the pretty, popular girl who could have anyone in her sights. I learned about dear Maggie the cat when Brick decided to come home and tell us all about his “studies”. He was so mad that some girl from nowhere comes and flirts with his good friend, Skipper. Big Daddy just smiled and told him how proud he is about his future football career. Big Mama smiled too. She always followed Big Daddy. I learned this as I grew older. She adored him so much that she always copied him. Big Mama got the brilliant idea that Brick should ask Maggie out because obviously, the reason why he was so mad was because he liked her. Ha! Eventually he did go out with Maggie, much to his dismay. He tried to stay as normal as possible. During his first date he doubled dated with Skipper and some girl. Gladys I think. It was horrible. He hated that Skipper was with a girl. Apparently, Skipper was mighty uncomfortable, too. I know this because when Brick got frustrated he tended to talk, a lot.
As he talked, I listened. I guess I was some sort of counselor to him, either that or he needed someone to talk to and I was stupid enough to listen. Now I didn’t hate these talks. I was able to get to know the boy who stole Big Daddy’s and Big Mama’s attention and love. Let me tell you, he was not very brick-like. I was also able to learn more about Maggie. I don’t hate her, though she doesn’t favor me. I understand where she is coming from. Even before she married Brick she referred to herself as a cat, a stray cat. She was born poor and with alcoholic father. She didn’t belong anywhere, though she tried. I somewhat admired her, but I would never tell her that. However, the whole “ cat on a hot tin roof” thing got kind of old after a while. Maggie could get anyone and she chooses Brick. I’m not exactly sure why. I’m not jealous; I just don’t understand what people see in him. Anyway, she had the looks and the brains to satisfy anyone -still does, anyone other Brick that is. Maggie would try and try but Brick would never be as attracted to her as she was to him. She tried everything. Sometimes she would come by and Big Daddy and Big Mama took a quick liking to her, but still Brick would sit on the chair and grumble to himself. He had no idea how good he had it.
During Brick’s college years it’s not like I did nothen’. Heck, I did a lot, a lot more than Brick anyway. I went off and became a lawyer just like my dad wanted. I would do anything to make Big Daddy look at me the same way he does with Brick. But that didn’t change anything. When I came home one day from Memphis, he wanted me to go there too; they didn’t seem too thrilled to see me. Brick was coming home from college and by this time he was a football player, a hero. Big Daddy was so proud. Big Mama was so happy and excited. She prepared his favorite dinner and made his room comfortable for him in order to accommodate his growing body. When I came home, no dinner was made and my room was the same little room. There was no way I was going to fit that bed, but that was the least of my worries. I was on a mission, a mission to make my dad proud.
Big Daddy had always wanted his line to continue. That meant marriage. I got married to Mae. Mae and I met while I was working in Memphis. She was having some money crisis and needed a lawyer to take care of things. She chose to come to my door. Fate, that’s what I believed it was. Mae was hard headed, that I could tell just by how she walked into the room. She looked like she had a huge weight on her shoulders and desperately needed it off. Her face was hard, though. No expression on it but sheer determination. She was wearing a dress which covered her neck. She still does, probably why Maggie calls her a “no-neck”. I didn’t mind it. I was only looking into her eyes. Anyway, she came, told me her problem and I naturally fixed it. After we went out for a few dinners and talked. Yup, we talked. First time in my whole life I talked and somebody listened. She was so good at it. I remembered Big Daddy’s need to continue the prestigious line of Pollitts and I made my decision. I was going to make Mae my wife. She listened and I needed that.
The day of our wedding was one I will never forget, though Big Daddy and Big Mama do. They never showed. Brick didn’t either and it was just Mae’s folks. I decided that I had to forget about my old family and think about my new, and I did that for years until I got the news about Big Daddy. He was sick and could only get worse. I then learned about the money. The money, my childhood home and the fond memories of my life without Brick were all taken away and given to the worst person ever, Brick. He did not deserve it, any of it. Not just the money or the house, but my parents love. He did nothing but slack and drink. He started drinking after Skipper died. Big Daddy and Big Mama thought that it was because Skipper was just a good friend, but I knew better. Brick hid from his problems, hid from them behind alcohol. I faced my problems head on. There was no way that I was going to let a drunken loser take the money and the remnants of my old life. I came up with a plan.
Big Daddy had heard the great news that he was staying amongst the living for awhile. He was happy, as was Big Mama, and she decided to throw a big party. Although I knew the truth, Big Daddy was happy and that was the best time to ask him for something. I left my new life in Memphis and journeyed back to my old one. It was hard, but it was something I had to do. At first I was worried that Mae would not want to come, but after asking her, she was adamant on going to meet the family that abandoned me. She wanted to tell them that I was worth it. I then had the overwhelming sensation of being loved. If only I could get that same feeling of love back from my parents. I brought the kids along, but I knew Big Daddy didn’t really favor them. Maggie didn’t favor them at all, but that didn’t matter to me, even though she was Brick’s wife. Maggie was Maggie and she wasn’t going to change.
At the party my children were being children and bothered the heck out of Maggie. In the beginning of the party, I constantly heard, “ You little no-neck monster!” It made me chuckle. I wondered if Brick weren’t Brick, he and Maggie would have children. Maggie wasn’t very patient, so I doubted it. As Brick and Maggie were taking their time coming down, I decided to talk to the Reverend. We discussed church and the lawyer came out of me when he told me that a window had broken. I asked him if there was someone he wanted to sue, but he just laughed. That was when we struck up a conversation about church windows and when Brick graced me with his presence. It was also when Big Daddy came into the room. Of course, he thought I was looking forward to him dying. Then Big Mama started to go on and on about Big Daddy’s wonderful health. I was actually glad when Maggie interrupted her. She took out a big box and asked Brick if she wanted to give his present to Big Daddy. I couldn’t pass this moment up to show Big Daddy what a fake Brick was. I said, “ I bet 500 to 50 that Brick doesn’t know what it is” (Williams 52). Maggie glared at me. I smiled a little. Big Mama, of course, dismissed my words. Well I tried. Then Big Daddy decided to speak to Brick alone.
The only indication of what the talk was about was that Brick had poured another glass. I felt suddenly hopeful. I complied and followed out of the room. Not until I was in the room did I notice Mae was nowhere in sight, that sneaky women. After a few minutes of silence in the room while Brick and Big Daddy talked I heard, “ Gooper? Gopper!” My shoulders tensed up. Maggie and Big Mama looked at me with accusing eyes. Hey, I didn’t do anything. Then I heard Mae’s voice. Then Big Daddy’s loud voice, “ You was just nothing but spyin’ an’ you know it!” (Williams 63). More accusing eyes were directed at me. “ I didn’t do anything.” Maggie just shook her head. More shouting ensued and Mae flew out of the room. “ Well, that didn’t help.” “What did you expect, sister women?” Maggie snarled. Mae looked at her as if she was gonna’ eat her. I pulled her back. Oh family.
We sat in silence, letting Brick and Big Daddy talk. I heard bits and pieces. They tended to mumble a lot. However, I did hear one thing loud and clear, “I hate Gooper an’ Mae an’ know that they hate me and since all five same monkeys are little Maes an’ Goopers- and I thought, No!-then I thought, Yes!- I hate Gooper and his five same monkeys and that b**** Mae! Why should I turn over my twenty- eight thousand acres of the richest land this side of the valley Nile to not my kind?”( Williams 85). How dare he? I tried so hard to make him love me again and here he hates me. I don’t hate him. No matter how many times he ignored me I remember him when he was the caring man with the ferret eyebrows. I desperately want that man back. I could never hate that man. But Brick was here and high and mighty, despite his drinking. That man who was my dad was never coming back as long as Brick was here. I decided to show Big Daddy the kind of person I am.
Mae appeared at the door where Big Daddy and Brick were talking. I couldn’t make out what she said but Brick stormed outside, or as close as a storm he could get with he’s hurt ankle. Big Daddy’s voice bellowed as he screamed Brick’s name. Then Mae came into the room with the Reverend. Everyone was worried about Big Daddy. I wasn’t. I knew where he was, in his room upset over Brick’s actions. Big Daddy’s golden boy was no longer golden. Things were looking up. I took his absence as an opportunity to tell Big Mama the reality. After trying to tell Big Mama the truth with little success, she said something that further broke my heart. She said, “ I want Brick. Where’s Brick. Where’s my only son?” ( Willams 113). That was it. That was what set me off, the final straw. I stared at her with eyes full of sadness. I wanted to cry. To become a child again and hug my mom, but I couldn’t. She was no longer my mother.
“ What does that make me ?” ( Williams 113), I managed to choke out. She still wanted Brick. “Mama, I’m your son! Listen to me!”( Williams 114). “I used to be your only son”, I wanted to so desperately say. But that didn’t work. Big Mama then said that I didn’t love Big Daddy, that I had never loved him. That was a lie! Had she forgotten that I was once their joy? Then if things couldn’t get worse, the Doctor brings up Big Daddy. This then escalates into Big Mama thinking I am being selfish and wanting to take the house. I make up my mind and ask Mae to give me my suitcase. Inside were papers. There were perks to being a lawyer. I tried explaining why such a big estate must be taken care of carefully but she would have none of it. More and more attempts to persuade her followed and each failed. My mind was going to explode. I spoke my mind, “ I don’t give a goddamn if Big Daddy likes me or don’t like me or never did or will or will never! …. I’ll tell you the truth. I’ve resented Big Daddy’s partiality to Brick ever since Brick was born and the way I’ve been treated like I was just barely good enough to spit on and sometimes not even good enough for that” ( Williams 121). I felt so good. The next few minutes after that were a blur. According to Mae there was more arguing and when Brick came back in, the argument grew stronger. But I didn’t care. I had shown my strength. That moment will never leave me.
Maggie decided to destroy my happiness by saying she’s pregnant. Of course, that was a lie but Big Mama was happy and once again Brick became her world. I took a deep breath. I placed my hand on Mae’s shoulder’s and said, “ Come along and leave these love birds together in their nest” ( Williams 130). I headed outside. Mae gathered the children and I took one last look at me old life. I was going off to become an even better lawyer then I was, and I have. My sixth child was born, Roxy. Memphis became my permanent home and I never looked back. However, as I took one last look at my old life, I saw Big Daddy at his window. As I looked up, I saw the last bits of his tough outer wall collapse and I saw my dad. A year later I got the call. Big Daddy had passed. Although I don’ t look back at my old life anymore, I still close my eyes and see the way Big Daddy had looked at me through his window and smile.