The last two posts have been about life lessons I have learned from different family members. I thought I would toss one more lesson out there – well maybe two. It is funny because my Nana shows up once again tonight. My older brother shows up as well, but this is not the same brother that had the Playboy magazines. This is the other one. I must admit that I cannot remember who initiated this one, but I will blame him. If you follow my page on Facebook, you will most likely see my brother claim innocence on this one – don’t believe him.
When we moved in with our Nana, we had two dogs. Our Nana had a little poodle. One of our dogs got along with the poodle, the other one – not so much. Due to this, and not wanting to lose our pet, our dad built an outside kennel complete with dog house. To this day, I always feel sorry for Scamper especially since Alfie, the poodle, had a tendency to not be so nice. This wasn’t his fault; he had been mistreated by previous owners.
Each evening, one of us would go out and feed and water Scamper. In the summer time, I would sit up on his dog house with him. The winter was not so kind to being out there with him at night. I never did understand Scamper because he liked being up on his dog house when it was cold. Just the same, this was something that one of us did nightly. Some nights we had to be pushed out the door – unless it was between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Also in our backyard was a camping trailer. It was cool to have this in our backyard. When we had friends over in the summer, we would sleep in it. We lived in an area were kids could camp in the backyard without fear. Okay, except for the night somebody drove down the dead-end by my cousins ‘house and lit a car on fire in the field. Other than that it was a safe place. The trailer also became my safe haven to do homework, read, or just hide out. The trailer was ours to use until Thanksgiving. At Thanksgiving, the door would be locked.
Our parents used the trailer during the holidays as Santa’s storage. They not only stored our presents in there, but I believe our cousins used it as well. We knew once the door locked that good things could be found inside. We also knew enough to never try to find the key and get inside. Though I was tempted to go in through the trunk a few times. I was small enough to fit in the trunk, and the inside door could be easily popped.
One year, again I am blaming my brother, it was discovered that one of the curtains on the side opposite the house was left with a small gap. We also discovered that by standing on Scamper’s water pail, we could see inside with the help of a flashlight. So each night, my brother and I would volunteer to go take care of Scamper. We could peek inside and see if anything had been added. Since my dad worked midnights, you just never knew when my parents would go shopping.
For the most part, our detective work turned out to be a bust. Items were in boxes or bags. We could see items being added, but not much detail. That trunk started looking better and better until one night. We put the flashlight up to the window and looked. We moved it around what seemed to be a cavern the size of a football field – looking. That is when we saw it. A huge box. This one had writing on it. Air Hockey. Yes. We were getting an air hockey. Score!
I am not sure how my brother and I were able to keep the secret, but keep it we must since our lives would have surely ended it had we spilled. Christmas morning came and we rushed down the stairs. We did our normal family rituals. Please Jesus in the crib, open the stockings, attack the presents. My brother and I kept looking at each other. Presents disappeared from under the tree. No big box was in sight. The last gift was opened. We were all happy, but my brother and I looked at each other. Oh well. I guess our cousin received the Air Hockey. Okay. We would go next door in the afternoon to play.
The rest of the day moved forward like the other Christmases. My mom and Nana started working on the dinner. We were using whatever presents we had received. Both my brother and I walked into the kitchen. Nana let out a little gasp, it was an oh no type gasp. Dad and Mom both looked at her. “We forgot….”
“AIR HOCKEY” we shouted (actually I think my brother shouted it, but he will deny it so I will say we)
All three adults froze. My brother and I looked at each other … knowing. Immediately we were sent to out rooms. I can still hear my father talking to me about how we had hurt Nana. She had planned to have this big surprise for us, and between the two of us – we broke her heart. Christmas lost its joy.
Eventually we were allowed back down to join everyone else. The game had been brought in from the trailer and set up in the basement. Nana had the honors. We were forgiven.
I guess in the end there are three lessons here – 1. Don’t snoop 2. If you know a secret – shut up. 3. Forgive others. I still remember the hurt we caused that day. We never repeated that mistake again. I will say that this story actually won me a prize on the radio in the UK. The show would read out apologies to people and give the back story. Once again, I will say sorry Nana.
Thank you for meandering with me tonight.