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Rowdy Kids in the Desert
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Rowdy Kids in the Desert |
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miscellanea Member Elite
since 2004-06-24
Posts 4060OH |
It was a long journey from home, one that would test a parent’s love and patience. My father was the most patient man who ever walked the earth, but I think the station wagon crew gave him a run for his money. Dad never scolded; he used “child psychology”. The only time I remember seeing him even vaguely mad or frustrated was when he was held hostage in a station wagon with five children, three of them teenagers. Imagine riding three thousand miles with seven warm bodies filling the old clunker with hot air, perspiration, raucous and extraneous noises. To add to the comfort back in those medieval times, there were no air conditioners in cars. Braving the unaccustomed desert heat and a broken fan belt, my father still maintained his calmness, simply removing his belt to manufacture a new fan belt. It wasn’t until my brother threw my sister’s tennis shoe out the window,that things broke loose. I was closest to the escape hatch, but it wasn’t close enough to dodge the squabbling. Everyone had to get in the act--even the family dog. As it barked, my oldest sister began shaming my brother for his devilish act (she, not so innocent herself). Scoldings or shamings didn't phase him; he continued to enjoy verbal combat with his stair-stepped sister. Mom slammed on the brakes. "Stop all this racket! Do you hear? And for You Two, you can GET OUT and WALK!" "But Mom and Dad, it's a scorcher out there! Get real, we're in the middle of the desert!" "Out! And stay out until you've have learned your lesson!" Meanwhile inside the car, the rest of us enjoyed a cooling temperature, free of two explosive bodies. Peace had just taken its first few orbits clearing a place to breathe, when we heard a wail from the nearby desert. “Daddy! Daddy! He pushed me into the cactus! Mom! Daddy! Help!” (My brother sure learned his lesson, didn't he?) I’m sure that something happened to him for this dastardly deed, but I can’t remember what “Child Psychology” Dad used. (I think my father may have taken a respite from his philosophy of no spanking.) All I remember is that my parents spent what seemed to be eternity removing cactus needles from my "innocent" sister’s rump. How she ever managed to sit down again, or, to ever forgive him, I'll never know! All that I can say is that any parent who travels with off-spring deserves sainthood or a straight jacket! Perhaps in multiple sizes, one for each child! [This message has been edited by miscellanea (07-04-2004 09:54 PM).] |
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Copperbell Senior Member
since 2003-11-08
Posts 956 |
lol she's looking at me!! he's leaning on me!! she colored on me!! Don't hit your sister with that!! But mom, she started it!! But mom, he started it!! (chorus) it's not my fault (do you think I might have travelled with children before?) enjoyed the read Misellanea  |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
You did too did not did not did not DID NOT.... I have a similar station wagon memory.... I'll have to size it up to see if it compares...  |
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iliana Member Patricius
since 2003-12-05
Posts 13434USA |
How fascinating.....My brother threw my sister's shoe out the window on a trip to DisneyLand one time, and he also pushed me into a cactus on that same trip...I think that happened in the desert in Arizona near the Petrified Forest, I think it was or maybe near the Grand Canyon....anyway, you won't believe this, but we were in a station wagon, too! lol no kidding! |
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