Pink's & Inspiration from a Spider

Tuesday, July 12, 2005

The week was full of rain, and Grandma Snicketts had come over on Wednesday bearing goodies, ideas, stories, and laughter.

On Tuesday, however, Carrie had found some new songs to add to the Snicketts collection. She had stumbled across the most “rocking-est” song ever from the 80’s: “Bullfrogs and Butterflies”. This was the same song Carrie and Joe would listen to whenever the English’s came over on Fridays. It was the “cool” song, the hip thing to sing. Then Carrie and Joe proceeded to dance a ho-down, do-si-do, to a censored version of Eminem.

“Oh, it’s dancing with Dumb and Dumber,” Mom chuckled.

Meanwhile, Collette and Mom were looking over a notebook of wise sayings and prayers which Mom had copied for Collette.

“Oh, a quote from Charlotte’s Webb,” Collette smiled.

“I was like – whoa – inspiration from a spider,” Joe cut in with his best surfer-dude impression.

Meanwhile, Joe hurried outside to perform skids on Carrie’s old red bike while Francis cleaned the street with a push-sweeper.

And that night Mom took Carrie-Bri and Collette shopping. Carrie found Collette a pair of nice sleek shoes (almost a track look) in brown and olive. And at Kohl’s (where they often sold children’s books with applicable stuffed animals), Mom bought a copy of “Go, Dog, Go” with stuffed dog and “Who put me in the Zoo?” with stuffed “leopard”. There was also a pair of Speedo goggles for Francis and Linnea for their new swimming classes.

“I know,” Carrie said with inspiration. “The ‘Go, Dog, Go’ will be for Joe, the goggles for Francis and Linnea, and we’ll give Rose ‘Who put me in the Zoo?’ Because that’s where she belongs!”

“Carrie,” Mom chuckled, “shame on you.”

But meanwhile, Rose was doing better. Six kids had been led to Christ in the Alton club, for which she was very pleased. She even did an example of the songs and stories she led the kids in, for Joe and Collette. Joe was beside himself with bafflement in the way she ran through everything in her oh-so-Rose way. It was not quite possible to describe this attitude of Rose’s. One would have to see it for one’s self to believe it.

And back in Wednesday, plans were being made to attend a weekend of lectures – “Chosen by God” – in September, given by R.C. Sproul at Twin Oaks. And Rose and Collette hoped to attend an antiques appraisal at the History Museum at the end of July.

Meanwhile, one of Carrie’s profs was doing research in Africa. And America Duncan (the girl from Mountain Home, Arkansas, who liked staying at home baking cakes which she never ate and toured Europe playing cello in an orchestra), was taking a job in Anchorage, Alaska. (This was Arthur Duncan’s sister.)

And so Carrie and Collette talked over Carrie’s class assignments and Collette had her cup of magnesium “tea” while Frances and Linnea swung wildly side to side on the porch swing, singing. And then Frances pulled out his capgun rifle and began shooting caps with Dad’s earphones secured snugly over his crown.

In the evening, there was a trip to Mid Rivers Mall for Grandma, Mom, Carrie-Bri, and Collette. Carrie found Collette several nice pieces for work, including a jean skirt (an item of clothing which Collette had never owned), two Bohemian necklaces (one made of wood beads and another of a long strand of colored glass beads). There were also several nice shirts in black, coral, and emerald-blue, and a pair of sandals. Carrie found herself a black top with a white coat of arms on the back. And even Grandma found a blouse from Mom’s and Mrs. English’s favorite store – Christopher & Banks (much to Carrie’s horror).

And then they stopped for a pretzel while they discussed various things. Carrie was most anxious to return and finish her paper. And Grandma was off the next morning to the bike rodeo with the police department for all the kids of Florissant. And in the afternoon she would hang her new curtains. But before they left, they stopped by Grandma’s car for a baseball cap for Carrie – black with the title of “Pink’s” stitched across the top in hot pink.

“That’s the place where all the big names in Hollywood go,” Grandma chuckled.

“Wow – what is it?” Carrie asked her.

“A hot dog stand,” Grandma laughed.

“Oh, Grandma, are you sure you don’t want this for sentimental value?”

Grandma rolled her eyes. “I don’t think so. I saw and I conquered.”

“Oh you can tell this is just ripping her apart,” Mom chuckled.

“No,” Grandma continued. “I’ve been there once and I don’t plan on ever going back.”

To be sure, Grandma’s and Lucia’s experience in L.A. had been rather traumatic, driving-wise. The traffic, the drivers, the roads had caused Grandma to yell:

“God Bless America!”

…more than once, they were sure.