Those 70ish Girls

via Murdo Girl…Marching to the drum of a different beater

It’s now nearing the middle of November and the residents of Thanksgivington have not been able to solve their dilemma. What does a small town with no children, no business, and no money do?

They all got together several weeks ago and decided to have a Christmas Extravaganza. Each business was to team up with another business or organization and come up with an idea to enter in the parade competition. The entrant who best represents a perfect Christmas will win the first ever Thanksgivington Christmas Extravaganza Trophy.

With no money, and no customers, the townspeople can’t get excited about a Christmas Extraveganza. Maybe that’s why the little burg has never celebrated Christmas before.

The streets of Thanksgivington look very lonely. The Police Station, The Church, and the Train Station remain empty each night.

 

Tom’s Books, Sweet Sally’s Bakery, Betsy’s Hare-dos, and Happy’s Flower Shop are getting close to having to close their doors.

 

Meanwhile, in a neighboring town by the name of Christmas Village, they have a different kind of dilemma. They’re overcome with kids…all kinds of offspring call this burg home. The schools are overcrowded and the super market can’t keep food on the shelves. As the little darlings grow, everything in Christmas Village seems to get smaller. It’s November and Thanksgiving is just around the corner, but the village people don’t talk about it. They don’t even have a recent head count. You see, it’s not that each family has so many children. The village people have done a very generous thing. They have taken in homeless  bunnies  from all around. They shouldn’t take more to raise, but who can say no to a homeless child.

Here comes the train with cars loaded with food and supplies. The merchants will be busy stocking the shelves and as with all the the local businesses, they will have record breaking sales. Because one business flourishes, it flows over to the others, but now there are too many village residents to keep up with all of their needs.

Charlie the engineer pulls into Christmas Village Station. He’s been thinking ever since the train pulled out of  Thanksgivington an hour ago. Charlie plans to talk to Mr. Fritz, the city manager. Charlie has an idea.

Mr. Fritz: Hi Charlie, What a nice surprise. You usually don’t take the time to come and say hello.

Charlie: Well, today Mr. Fritz, I have something to talk with you about. I just left Thanksgivington and they are in a real bad way over there. Did you know not one child lives there? It’s pretty sad. They get together for Thanksgiving because they are thankful for friends, family, health and the taxes are low (no school tax.) The average temperature is 70 degrees. Plus the church ladies put together a mean Thanksgiving dinner.

Well, the precious child you’re reading this to is about to nod off. (Unless you live in Thanksgivington.) I’ll give you the short ending. All of the Christmas village residents went to Thanksgivington for Thanksgiving and they divided up the  bunnies. Then all the Thanksgivington residents went to Christmas village for Christmas. They had a wonderful time with all the kids and lived happily ever after except Sally’s cat, but then, he’s never happy.

 Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. You are all right near the top of my list of people I’m grateful to have in my life. I’m even giving you a couple if days off. 

P.S. I don’t know who won the Christmas Extravaganza trophy…I didn’t go.

It’s Thursday and I’m on my way over to Pearl’s to walk Pearl the dog. I’m feeling a little depressed. There’s going to be a music contest in Martin on Saturday and I have to play in a quartet and play a solo. That isn’t why I’m upset though. First of all, Mom got mad because I didn’t tell her I volunteered her to drive some kids to Martin until this morning. She said she didn’t even know I was playing a saxophone solo and when did I practice because she never did hear me play my horn that much. At least she didn’t say no to driving us. It would be kind of late notice to get someone else’s mom to drive. I was going to ask her to buy me a poorboy dress like all the other girls are wearing to the contest. They are so neat. I just love them, but I don’t have enough time now to get Mom back into a giving mood.

“Hi Pearl, I’m here…are you?

“Yes…I’m in the living room. Come on in here, I want to show you something.”

Pearl had three boxes in front of her that she had already opened. She told me last week she ordered some new things from Penney’s.

“I see you got some new nightgowns, Pearl. Are you worried you’re going to get comatose before Christmas?”

“Oh, heavens to Betsy, no. They were on sale. Essie, You have really been working hard over here, what with the recent bad weather and those days Grace and I were out of sorts. I heard you say the other day that you were hoping your mom would buy you a new dress for the music contest.”

“Yeah, but she’s pretty poor. I didn’t even ask her.”

“Well, here then. Open this box. Better yet…take in Faith’s old room, try it on and come out and show me how it looks.”

I was pretty excited. This is the dress I’d been looking at. I could just imagine how it would look on me.

I tore open that box in a hurry. This is what Pearl got me.

“Come on dear, I can’t wait to see it on you. I remembered you said it had a different fabric on the top and a belt.”

Oh, my…you will be the best dressed girl there. It fits perfectly and it’s got pizzazz! Go across the hall and get Grace. I want her to take a picture of us.

I did my best to pretend I liked the dress. I wouldn’t hurt Pearl’s feelings for anything. She didn’t get to be a mom. My mom says Pearl worked hard in her beauty shop all those years and she was on her feet so much she got very close veins.

I’m on my way home, well not exactly home. I have to go check on Pearl and Grace and walk Pearl the dog first. I’m not there yet, but I almost am.

Grace got better.  Her son, Tim, said he knew she would if he threatened to take her to the hospital in Pierre. Doc Brown said she has to go on a diet now and lose at least ten pounds. The preacher’s wife told her about a weird kind of diet that makes the fat fall right off. I think I know why, too. The stuff she eats smells up the whole upstairs. If it seeps into the store below, they won’t like it. It takes your appetite right away.

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“I’m here Pearl…are you?”

“Yes I’m here. Pearl the dog has been very anxious to get out. She probably want’s to get away from all that cabbage Grace is cooking for her diet. We only have to smell it. Grace has to eat it. You know…she has inspired me. Her commitment to her health has me thinking of getting rid of my worst vice.”

“What’s that Pearl..gossiping?”

“I do not gossip, Essie. I only tell things to those who can keep a secret. I’ve decided to quit smoking. That is a huge step for me!”

“But Pearl, you only smoke air cigarettes. How is it going to help you to quit sucking and blowing plain old air?”

I thought that was a good question and I guess Pearl did too, because she had to think awhile before she answered me.’

“It’s all about self-discipline, Essie. I use my air cigarette smoking as a coping mechanism…a crutch, so to speak.”

Pearl barely got the words out of her mouth before she started blowing air. I didn’t say anything, but she could probably see my eyebrows go up.

“I’m going to start tomorrow. It’s unheard of to start breaking a bad habit in the middle of the day.”

Peal the dog and I went for a long walk. When we got back, she did not want to go back up the stairs to Pearl’s rooms. When I finally got her inside, I felt sorry for her. I wonder how long it will take Grace to lose ten pounds.

Three days later:

“Hi Pearl, I’m here…are you?”

“Of course I’m here where else would I be? Pearl the dog is lying by the back door. She’s been there all day. Are you late? It feels like you’re late!”

when I went into the living room and saw Pearl, I didn’t know what to think. She was still in her bathrobe and she was chewing a big wad of gum. She must have had two packs of empty gum wrappers in the ashtray next to her.

Before Pearl the dog and I could get out of there, Grace knocked on the door to Pearl’s kitchen. When Pearl yelled at her to come in, she did. I didn’t even have to ask what was in the pot she was carrying. By this time, I was very familiar with the odor of cabbage soup.

Grace looked at me, and said, “Will you please tell Pearl that I brought her some cabbage soup? I can’t eat another bite of it. Do you hear me? Not one more BITE!”

Pearl looked at me and said, “Would you please tell Grace that I’ll starve to death before I’ll take a bite of it. Do you hear me? Not one BITE!”

I think they must have waited all day for me to get there so they could yell at each other. I could feel a lot of pent-up feelings floating around in the air right along with the smell of cabbage soup.

“On second thought,” Pearl said. “Put that poison in the ice box. I’ve gained six pounds in three days.”

Grace put the soup in the refrigerator and then, fell into a chair.

“I’m so weak, I could hardly brush my dentures this morning,” Grace said as she reached for a stick of gum.

I could feel my ‘Power of Splendiferous’ come over me. “You are both mean and you look bad,” I said. “Pearl and I are going for a walk and when we get back, I want to see some serious air smoking going on, and Grace, go fix yourself a minced ham sandwich.”

“She’s right,” Pearl said. “Who wants to live forever anyway?”

 

 

 

 

 

Something awful has happened! Pearl called my mom this morning and said Grace got really sick in the night. They have a nurse with her until her son Tim gets there from Montana. They think she might have to go to Pierre to the hospital. Mom said Pearl was a wreck and sent me to stay with her until things settle down. I’m not quite there yet, but I almost am.

I don’t do well with sick people. I’m always worried that whatever they have might rub off on me. I sure hope Pearl doesn’t get sick like Grace, because I’m not sure I could stay with her. That would make my mom really mad, because she thinks I’m being ridiculous. I don’t agree because not everybody is cut out to help sick people. The first thing I’m going to do when I get there is take Pearl the dog for a really long walk.

“Hi Pearl!” I’m here…are you?”

“Yes Essie…I’m so happy you’re here. I don’t do well with sick people and I feel just terrible that I can’t go and comfort Grace, but I just get too upset and I fear that will upset her.”

“Are you afraid she might rub off on you?” I asked.

“Not exactly, but I know what you mean. Whenever I’m near someone who is sick, I feel like I’m having all of their symptoms, and that can’t be good for me or poor Grace.”

“Are you a hydrocrondiac, Pearl?”

Pearl looked at me funny, but I think she is one and just doesn’t want to face it.

“Well, I’m going to take Pearl the dog for a long walk so she stays well.” I wasn’t asking a question, but Pearl answered me anyway. She told me to be back in ten minutes, because she felt a sinking spell coming on. I’ve never heard of a hydrocrondiac having a sinking spell, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen.

“Come on Pearl. Do your duty because you only have ten minutes.”

Pearl looked at me like she does when I have to be stern. She doesn’t like to see my stern face.

“Why do you have to take so long to pick out your spot, Pearl? Don’t they all smell just the same? I’m telling you, if Pearl has a full blown sinking spell, it will be your fault.”

When we got back upstairs, Pearl the human was sitting in her living room and she looked fine. Her hair was all nice and she even had her bright red lipstick on. She was sitting in her favorite chair and she had a notepad and a pen.

“We came back in ten minutes just like you said, Pearl.”

 

“Good…Because we have work to do, Essie. I’m making you my ‘Power of Splendiferous.’ Do you know what that is?”

I had no idea what splendiferous even meant, so I told her no.

As my ‘Power of Splendiferous,’ you will have certain responsibilities should I become too ill to do them myself…which in my case would be comatose. I can see the stricken look on your face, Essie, so I will explain. Here is a pen and pad so you can write things down. Are you ready?”

I took the pen and pad from her, but if she was going to get comatose, I was not going near her.

“There is good news and bad news. The good news is I don’t color my hair because it is a beautiful shade of nearly white. You won’t have to worry about dying my roots. Did you write that down, Essie?”

“The bad news is, I have a hair on my chin that needs to be plucked once a week or so. That one is critical. I would hate to think that visitors would be focused on that hair and not on my otherwise blemish free face.”

“Next…are you ready? Write this so years from now, you will be able to understand what you wrote. I look ghastly without lipstick, but I would look even ghastlier lying in bed with this bright red color on my lips. Go get my make-up case and I’ll show you which color to put on me. You can skip the lip liner. Unless you are practiced it can look garish.”

By the time I was done, Pearl had listed nine things for me to do when she gets comatose. She even showed me the nightgowns she wants to wear. She hopes she gets some for Christmas, because she only has three good ones right now. Pearl let me write down that she doesn’t expect me to put her gowns on unless I’m at least fifteen when she succumbs to whatever. I just have to make sure it gets done by an able person.

I got to take Pearl the dog for a long walk… all the way to my house to get my night clothes. I’m staying the night with Pearl. Mom said it would ease her mind. I didn’t tell her I wasn’t that crazy about spending the night with a hydrocrondiac that might have a sinking spell and get comatose. I was getting kind of used to being a ‘Power of Splendiferous.’

 

 

 

Betsy is at the beauty shop fixing Mrs. Jenkins hair. (Mrs. Jenkins is Wat’s wife. He’s the mailman.) Betsy loves her because she knows all the scoop in town.Betsy: What do you know today, Mrs. Jenkins? Anything interesting happening in town?

Mrs. Jenkins looks a little uncomfortable.

Mrs. Jenkins: Well, there is sadness in the air Betsy, nothing but sadness. Wat says all the mail he is delivering around town is bills. He says the envelopes from the same bill collectors get fatter every week. It’s a bad sign of things to come. Your business will be falling off too if people don’t start getting some paying customers. After all, Betsy, your business is considered…after market.

Betsy: What, pray tell, is, “after market?”

Mrs. Jenkins: Well, you know when a person goes and buys himself a new car? He decides he doesn’t want to pay for all the bells and whistles which are considered after market items. Wat can cut out my weekly trips to the Beauty Shop, and the masseuse. I don’t have a masseuse, but if I did, he could cut it out, because those are both after market items. They might make me look better, but he can live without them.

Betsy: It can’t get much slower than it is already, Mrs. Jenkins. I’ll have to give up my shop if it doesn’t get better soon. As it is, I fix a lot of hair for a lot of nothing.

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Sylvia is looking out the window of the bookstore. She’s hoping a customer will come and buy a book. Business is really down and she’s concerned Tom might not be able to keep her on if business doesn’t pick up soon. They don’t even have an increase in sales at Christmastime because Thanksgivington doesn’t celebrate Christmas, therefore, people don’t buy each other Christmas gifts. Well, at least Tom decided to partner with Happy over at Happy’s Flower Shop for the parade competition. He’s over there right now swapping ideas with Happy.

Tom: I don’t even know where to begin, Happy. I’ve never been a part of entering in a parade competition before, and I sure don’t know what a perfect Christmas would look like.

Happy: You know, Tom…I didn’t realize you were quite this jumpy. You’re kind of getting on my nerves. I think I have some lavender over here. If you hold it under your nose, maybe it’ll calm you down some.

Tom: Thanks, Happy…I’ve never tried lavender. It has a good odor to it.

Happy: You mean scent, Tom. A rotten egg has an odor, flowers have a scent.

Tom: Whatever it is, it smells real nice. You don’t seem to have many flowers  in your flower shop, Happy. You must have sold a bunch today.

Happy: Not exactly, Tom. It’s been a long time between good days here, and I just can’t afford keep fresh flowers on hand if I can’t sell them. As it is, on the rare occasion someone does call, I have to tell them I’m sold out.

Tom: Why do you think I read all my books? It’s because I can’t sell any. I have Sylvia’s wages to pay, too. I’m not going to be able to keep her on much longer.

Over at Sweet Sally’s Bakery, Sally is sitting at one of her empty tables. She is staring at the fresh carrot cake and cinnamon rolls in the food case. She has used the last of her flour, sugar and spices and there is no money to buy more. Sally refuses to freeze them, even if they are the last she will ever make. 

And so it goes in the pretty little burg of Thanksgivington. They have no children, they have no business, and they have no money.

As Sally walks the fifteen blocks home, she thinks about her own situation. She doesn’t want to move away from Thanksgivington, but it appears she is going to have to close the bakery, and when that happens, there won’t be a reason to stay here. She has another problem as well. Kitty hates Thanksgivington.

As with most stories, there is one who has the answer to Thanksgivington’s dilemma. Can he do what must be done in time? Will Thanksgivington have a perfect Christmas?

 

We left Thanksgivington  before you had been introduced to all  the townspeople. They are very anxious to meet you! I’m the Beasterhop and I will be the narrator of this tell tail tale… of sorts.

The Beasterhop

Sally…owner of Sweet Sally’s Bakery

You will meet Kitty later.

Tom…owner of Tom’s Books

Sylvia…works for Tom

Betsy…owner of Betsy’s Hare-dos

Thanksgivington Train Station

The townspeople have decided they will be celebrating Christmas for the very first time. They haven’t had so much as a peppermint candy cane in the past. You see, there are no children in Thanksgivington. How could they celebrate Christmas without children?

The people of Thanksgivington are tired of missing out on the joys of Christmas, so they decided to plan their own perfect Christmas.

This year, they are going to have a Christmas Extravaganza with all the trimmings. It will culminate with a huge parade. The theme for the extravaganza will be, A Perfect Christmas. The business or organization with the best representation of  A Perfect Christmas will receive the first annual Christmas Extravaganza trophy

There is one other thing. Each business and/or organization must pair up with another business and/or organization and work together on their entry. 

Let’s head back over to Sweet Sally’s Bakery and have some hot chocolate and a danish. Looks like Sally is  visiting with  Watson the mailman. Watson is rather hard of hearing, so this could be interesting.

Sally: Good morning Wat…Do I have mail today?

Wat: What, what? Oh, you mean Wat. Sorry Sally, I’m still delivering mail. Can I have a rain-check? Oh no, can’t do that either. I have to deliver the mail even if it rains, or snows and a bunch of other weather related stuff. Here’s your mail, Sally. You got a nice card there from your sister, yup…I always did like your sister.

Sally was going to ask him if he would be her partner for the parade, but she knew it wouldn’t do any good to yell after him…he wouldn’t hear her anyway. Oh well, it’s only November 1st. There is a lot of time between now and December 25th.

I highly recommend Sally’s danish. It’s the best I’ve ever eaten. Let’s go on over and see Tom and Sylvia at the bookstore.

That Tom really is Jumpy. If he doesn’t want to be startled all the time, he should take those bells down. Here comes Sylvia.

Sylvia: I hate making you jump every time I open that door, Tom. Why don’t you take those bells down?

Tom: That’s not why I’m so jumpy today, Sylvia. I’m nervous about our entry for the Christmas extravaganza parade. I can’t think of anyone who would want to be my partner. I get so jumpy when I’m nervous.

Sylvia: Now you’re talking foolishness, Tom. I for one, will help, but you’re right. We have to find another business or organization to partner with.

Here comes Happy the Happy Flower Shop owner. Tom is looking right at Happy and he still jumps. I fear he will fall off his stool.

Happy: You really should take those bells down Tom. It can’t be good for you to jump every time someone comes through the door.

Tom: I know Happy, but I like to hear the bells. It might be someone coming in to buy a book. I don’t sell many books anymore. It seems I spend all day reading them myself. I guess when I’m done with all of the books, I’ll start reading the dictionary.

Happy: Sorry, Tom, I don’t need a book today, but What do you think about partnering with me for the Christmas Parade?

Tom: I don’t know Happy. Do you have any ideas?

Happy: You surprise me, Tom… I figured a jumpy guy like you would jump right on the bandwagon…Hey, Let’s put a bandwagon in the parade. That’s a great idea! We’ll fill in the blanks later…see ya Tom!

 

Meanwhile, Betsy is talking to all her customers at Betsy’s Beauty Shop.

Betsy: Hey girls…How about we all get together and enter that Christmas extravaganza parade? I have an idea that is sure to be a winner. We’ll take the trophy for sure. Why, in a few years, we’ll have the walls in my beauty shop lined with trophies.

They don’t know they’re about to have a little visit from Sally’s sister….

Don’t read this part to the kiddies…I’m just making sure you’re paying attention.

Word of the day: bandwagon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m on my way over to Pearl’s house. It’s Halloween today and I still don’t have a costume. Pearl said she would help me…right before she chewed me out for waiting til the last minute. I’m not what you call a creation person. I’m more like a “You get it ready and I’ll wear it person.” I’m happy Pearl the human is going to help me, but I’m a little worried.  Who knows what I’m going to look like. Pearl always tells me not to count a gift horse in the teeth, or something like that.

“I’m here Pearl…I’m going to take Pearl the dog for her walk, and then I’ll try on the costume you figured out for me, okay?”

“Okay,” Pearl said. “Come back here to the cat room when you get back. ”

“Land sake,”  Pearl says to herself. “Maybe Doc Brown is right. I need to get my eyes checked. I can’t even wink right anymore.”

***********************************

It was a really nice day, so Pearl the dog and I took a longer walk than usual. It isn’t very often you don’t have wind in South Dakota, and the sun was out, too.

On our way back to Pearls, we stopped at my friend Andy’s house. He was just sitting there watching the Andy Griffith show.

“I keep forgetting to ask you, Andy. Who are you going to dress up like to go trick-or- treating tonight?”

“I’m going to dress up like me carrying a big candy bag, and if Mom doesn’t have a big enough bag, I’ll take my pillow case.”

“You can’t do that, Andy. You will spoil it for the rest of us because all the people will  think you’re out of the spirit and just in it for the candy.”

“What? I am just in it for the candy and so are you, so why dress up like something stupid?”

“Well, all I’ve got to say is, if you go as yourself, you’ll be dressing up like something stupid. Come with Pearl the dog and me back to Pearl the human’s place. She’ll get us both fixed up with a costume and we can go together tonight.”

That night Andy,  Andy’s little brother and I went trick-or-treating together.

Pearl the dog is thinking…wake me when it’s over.

Andy: It’s funny isn’t it how everybody knows who we are. Hey look! All those little kids are scared of us…that’s cool.”

Ellie: No, Andy, I think they see the real thing!

Pearl: Pearls, Pearls everywhere. I just love it! Happy Halloween everyone.! This is my kind of holiday!

Andy: That Miss Pearl…she always looks like she’s got a weeks worth of clothes on…it’s like she can’t decide what to wear, so she wears it all at once.

What do you think the perfect Christmas would be like? I’m not talking about a child‘s perfect Christmas. I’m talking about the perfect Christmas for adults without children.

Christmas is supposed to be made up of cookies, and trees, hot chocolate, dolls, and trains, moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas, cousins, aunts and uncles, candy canes, love and warmth, Christmas programs at churches and schools, baby Jesus….and… kids, lots of kids… and Santa Claus.

When you become an adult and have your own family, you carry on all those family traditions you grew up with, right?

Not necessarily….

Dear Murdo Girl Readers who might think I’m jumping the gun on Christmas.

Not necessarily…

This is an adult story suitable for all children. It will be posted most nights for the next two weeks…I hope you enjoy it.

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Thanksgivington’s Perfect Christmas

“Kitty where are you? I’m going to work now, I’ll see you tonight.”

“Meow”

“Please don’t be that way, Kitty. You have to find a way to turn your sad feelings into happy feelings. You’re making everyone around you sad.”

“Meow, meow, meow, meow…”

Sally didn’t have the time or the inclination to deal with Kitty right now. She had thirty minutes to walk the fifteen blocks to work; just enough time to forget about grumpy old Kitty, and collect her thoughts before she would be at the bakery.

Sally owns Sweet Sally’s Bakery  which is the only bakery in town. When she walked up to the door, she brushed the snow off her coat, and stomped her feet before going inside. There would soon be the comforting aroma of cinnamon rolls and freshly baked carrot cake wafting through the bakery. (Word of the day: wafting)

Sally could also feel excitement in the air. At long last, Thanksgivington was going to celebrate Christmas.

Its the first of November and the town of Thanksgivington is preparing for the first annual Christmas Extravaganza. The initial planning meeting had been held the night before in the Pellet Room at Betsy’s Cafe. It was decided that for their very first extravaganza the theme would be:

A Perfect Christmas

The whole town will put up Christmas displays, and all of their celebrations will be around the theme of a perfect Christmas.

At the planning meeting, everyone seemed the most excited about the Christmas Parade. Businesses and organizations will compete for the big prize, which will go to the entrant that best represents a perfect Christmas.

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Across Main Street, Tom has just arrived at his book store which he calls, Tom’s Books. He is deep in thought when Sylvia walks in and startles him. Tom is very hoppy, I mean jumpy.

“Oh goodness,Tom,…I didn’t mean to make you jump. I must be more careful. What were you so deep in thought about?”

“I was thinking about the theme for the Christmas extravaganza. It sounded great last night, but I don’t have a family, therefore I don’t have a perfect Christmas memory to draw from. Do you have any ideas, Sylvia?”

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On the corner of Main Street and Giving Street, sits Betsy’s Beauty Shop. Betsy is very artistic and well known for her original hare-dos. She, too , is scratching her head. (She has a little dandruff, but please don’t tell anyone.) Like everyone in town, she is wondering what she can put together that would best represent a perfect Christmas.

Such is the mood all over Thanksgivington. From the barber shop to the police station, and the café to the churches, everyone is wondering what best represents:

A Perfect Christmas

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There is something else you should know…There are no children in Thanksgivington. It wasn’t planned that way. Children would be welcome in Thanksgivington, but for some unknown reason, families with children don’t come to live in the pretty little town.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s Saturday and there’s definitely something strange going on. Pearl has noticed Essie has been hanging around more than usual, and she’s determined to get to the bottom of it.

Pearl knocks on the door of the cat room. She knows Essie is in there and has been for the last couple of hours.

“Who’s there?” Ellie asks.

“It’s Pearl… I think the more appropriate thing to say since this is my home and not yours is, “Please come in. Now, please open the door.”

“Okay,…Jeez, Pearl, can’t a person and a dog have a little privacy?”

“Of course, but I need to know what your motives are.”

“My what?”

“Your motives… I can’t help but notice you have been over here a lot more lately. Every time I look around, I see you. I doubt Pearl the dog’s bathroom habits have changed that much so clue me in please.”

“I’m grounded and this is the only place Mom will let me go besides home. The only reason I can come here is because of my job.”

“Your grounded again? Good Grief, child…You don’t seem to be able to stay on the right side of the law. What did you do this time?”

“I think it’s Mom’s fault. She should’ve told me no when I asked her if I could ride my brother’s bike to Harold the Barber’s to get a haircut. My brother really likes that bike.”

“Anyway, I was preoccupied  by something on the way home and I wrecked his bike. It only scraped it up a little, and you can’t even see any damage on one whole side. The chain came off, but that’s an easy fix. The handle bars are kinda loose, but I like them that way. You can adjust them easier and make sharper turns.”

“So, you got grounded for making a pile of  metal and rubber out of your brother’s fancy bike?”

“Well, not exactly. When Mom got home, I was crying and I couldn’t stop.  I felt so bad, I even had those hiccups you get when you cry hard for a long time. Mom told me twice to stop crying and I really tried, but I was what you call, devastated. Mom got really nice and sat down beside me. She said she would have a talk with my brother and he probably wouldn’t be that mad, so I could quit crying over it now.”

“I must be missing something, here. It sounds like you were going to skate on this one.” Pearl really looked puzzled, and if it’s one thing Pearl really hates, it’s when she doesn’t have the whole story.

“I told Mom I wasn’t crying because I wrecked the bike, I was crying because I hate my haircut. Harold has a new guy working there part-time and just look what he did to me. I yelled at him too. I said, “It’s okay for me to have a little hair, buster!”

Well, Pearl told me I can’t stay in the cat room until my hair grows out, so we went to her apartment above the store. She said I needed a few lessons on how to leave well enough alone. I think that means, if things are going your way, keep your mouth shut. I’m staying over at Pearl and Grace’s as much as I can. At least til my brother cools down some. Pearl said I could keep coming over here, but she’s not going to pay me for hiding-out time.