Mama was an ex-gospel singer, sacrificing an opportunity to perform at the Grand Ol' Opry (and touring with celebs like Hank Williams), for marriage and raising a family. Both parents were fun-loving, but worked hard from dawn to dusk on our strip of prairie sod, and ventured no further than town (20 miles away) for groceries, and church on Sundays.
I was a mischievous child, and often tried the sanity of my dear mother by crawling, in my best dress, under the church after the pastor's son. I tested her self-control on several occasions, by announcing to the congregation that the Cracklin' Oat Squares she brought (in a plastic baggie) to keep me quiet during services were not cereal pieces, but was in fact, cat food. But my crowning moment of mischief was when I brought a weanling filly into the house. It's no wonder the dear lady grayed prematurely. But all that pales in comparison to what I've endured.
Since becoming a parent, I've had my nose broken, been left behind at a city park (no one realized I was missing from the car), fallen head-first into a Christmas tree, chased a strange car across a parking lot (believing it was mine), swallowed a fly, and played bob for cell phones in the toilet. Yes, anything can happen in my family, and it often does. I wouldn't change it for the world.
Below is an excerpt from my story Turkey Troubles and Chasing Aprons. If you'd like to read more, it can be purchased on Kindle for $.99 at Amazon. I'd appreciate it greatly if you'd vote for it in the SHORT STORY section of the P&E contest. The stories are listed in ABC order. Thanks!