the washing machine incident

this is just a little slice of life, from my childhood—no heavy posts, today—just getting through the alphabet and thought you might enjoy this little story

one time while my mother had to go to the store, she left my older sister and myself at home—i was to be picked up by a friend's mother and taken to volunteer at a local hospital, where my friend and i were “candy stripers”---i think we were around 12 or so---

well my sister, who was very wise, was washing a load of clothes for my mother---so she didn't have as much to do when she got home with all of the groceries---my sister was like, that—always pitching in, always cleaning something—i was not-----

well, i am on the front steps, in my darling candy striper uniform, waiting for my friend and her mom, when i hear my dear sister screaming for me---i knew this wasn't going to be good---

“lynn, get yourself in here, right now, the washing machine is having a problem”----i sauntered up the stairs and into the house-----it wasn't a problem, it was a flood----water was coming out of the utility room, into the kitchen and almost, almost, oh no---not my mother's precious wood floors, she had just waxed------my sister was thrashing and beating the water with towels--

i being fully clothed for my volunteering, was not about to get involved in this fiasco-----

i start to whine and proclaim, that i didn't know what to do----that was the wrong thing to say, evidently----she threatened me unmercifully---but that did not persuade me to help---

did she really think i was going to ruin my cute out-fit----she knew better---but i underestimated her rage-

she threw down her mop and towels, picked me up by my white shirt collar and dragged me through the waters, now up to our ankles and tossed me out onto the back steps---

when my friend's mom came to pick me up a few seconds later—i had to wring my hair out and right-en myself enough to go to her car window and let her know, i would certainly not be going to volunteer today----funny i don't think she asked what was wrong—but she probably saw my foot tapping mean old sister up on the porch, waiting for me------don't worry, i get her back--