Flashback to the 1950s -
When I was a little kid, say about five years old, my mom was still a stay-at-home mom. My older siblings were all in school. Her day was pretty full, what with visiting with the man who delivered Wonder Bread, the bread to build strong bodies. She also ordered those delicious Blueberry pies from him, the ones that were sold in a tin pie plate that one either had to return “clean,” at the next visit, or else pay up.
In fact, it seems that there was an ongoing parade of salesmen at our house. The Fuller Brush man came to the door, often. My Dad referred to this man as “Egads” because every sentence that ever came out of his mouth was preceded or followed by “Egads!”
Even the piano tuner seems to have been a frequent visitor, in retrospect. I’d feed him Rolos chocolate candy thinking he would do a better job and then, hurry up and leave!
The bottom line is that I wanted my mother’s attention and I was distressed at all of these people taking up space in the kitchen and chatting, when she could be teaching me more embroidery stitches, or playing a game with me.
I don’t know what got into me, exactly. One day, with an insurance salesman yakking away as she stirred something on the stove, I lifted the corner of her long-ish dress and exclaimed,”But, Mother! You have no undies on!” Of course, she did!
The two adults turned beet red, and as my mother began to speak up for herself, saying, “What do you mean, Patti? Of course …,” the salesman had hoofed it to the door and left, never to return.
My mother was baffled by my behavior, but I tell you, the scene was priceless. Since this happened before the “age of reason,” which according to my religious upbringing is the age of 7, I suppose I’ll not be held accountable at the pearly gates. It is simply a funny memory that I carry with me today. After that, Mother did not encourage these daytime visitors to linger, just in case of an unexpected, repeat performance.
Patricia Cummings
Tags: a tale from childhood
Patricia, I love this story. It brings back memories of when I was a child.