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Kokomo Kootsie
11/28/2002
Nibbles- Bits & Pieces
"The Birthday Party"
After Aunt Mary, and my Uncle Mutt, was married about two years, she decided to give a surprise birthday party for Uncle.
She flew around the house all secretly happy, getting it all together. Her relatives came up from Sheridan, and all their friends were invited, a time set.
Uncle worked with, or rather he and a friend owned a fledgling candy business, so Kenny, his partner, had the honor of calling him up and telling him he was needed at the shop-on his birthday!
Uncle Mutt, (everyone called him Pete; I called him Mutt for my own reason) left early on his birthday morning, said he'd be back at noon.
Uncle Mutt was wrapped up in his work, and noon came, and Uncle did not!
About thirty people were gathered at our house, and a whole gang of small children; all, by then, very hungry. It was a big dinner, all kinds of delicious foods, right before their eyes. Untouchable, until Uncle showed up!
The shop had no phone; it was just a two man operation, and it was during the depression when all corners not absolutely necessary were cut. So Uncle couldn't be called. No one wanted to drive a great distance across town to tell him to come home!
They waited and waited, and Aunt Mary was embarrassed to tears, and becoming very angry. Finally, she had to tell the guest to fill up their plates-they would not wait on the guest of honor!
When all were about half way through the dinner, in walked the hero, into a houseful of people eating dinner!
He didn't look surprised. He didn't look happy to see them. A few stilted words on his part, were exchanged with the guest, as he made his way through them, through the house, and out the back door, and kept on walking!
I can bring up the picture still. I see Uncle Mutt, with his long strides, moving down the back yard path to the ally. I see him turn left and then he was gone from sight!
Aunt Mary stood in the door, with angry tears in her eyes, and I stood beside her, too embarrassed, to keep quiet and kept yakking, "Where's he going?" Maybe he's going to get ice cream. Did you send him for ice cream?" Aunt Mary, tartly informed me, "No!" she did not send him for ice cream!
The party went on without him, and all seemed to enjoy themselves. But not Aunt Mary!
Aunt Mary was the mildest of creatures; never raised her voice. But inward she boiled when she became angry. She had other ways of letting the anger loose. I know. I lived there for three or more years, and I saw how it worked more than once. Felt it directly once myself!
Uncle walked in the back door about three hours later; looking sheepish and a bit angry himself! Then they began to have an exchange of words!
He told her she knew he hated surprises, especially parties, birthday parties. He said, "You will have one for me, won't you?" with a nervous 'Ha-ha.' Her reply was, "I'll never have anything for you again!" They both got over it, celebrated their fifty year anniversary. But he never had another of his birthdays even remembered-by a card or the words, "Happy Birthday." Ever again!
For Mary Fulton Overstreet
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| EPM 2002 - 2005 |
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