When friendships decay...
Saturday, October 7, 2006
Linnea’s 9th – oh happy day.
The afternoon was spent at the house, where Izzy was over playing with Frances. OLeif and Collette were greeted by Linnea, who stood there in the kitchen in a jean skort and a new shirt which read across the front: KUKLA.
“What do you think it means?” She asked, pointing to the letters.
She kept them guessing until she explained that KUKLA meant “doll”, a gift from Grandma. And Grandma Combs soon arrived to chat with Mom on the picnic table outside while on the other picnic table, opposite, OLeif, Collette, Rose, and Linnea struck up a game of mah-jong. They continued to play six rounds over the course of the evening.
Soon, Grandma Snicketts and Great Aunt Rebecca arrived. They could never call Aunt Rebecca – Great Aunt Rebecca. At a few days shy of eighty, she was as spry a lady as ever they knew. They arrived to chat with Grandma Combs and Mom, and Collette caught snatches of conversation from them…
How Aunt Rebecca’s grandfather was in Independence when the cannon ball lodged itself in the courthouse, how she had recently broken her leg and didn’t see the doctor for awhile, just used crutches she had in the basement. Of Grandma’s trip in the Black Hills, and many other things.
Meanwhile, Dad had returned with Kentucky Fried Chicken and Mom set out salad, cooked vegetables, homemade macaroni and cheese, and punch. Everyone sat around the dining room table and talked, except for Collette, Frances, and Linnea, who discussed enemies, nuclear missiles, disguised UFO’s, etc., which were some of their favorite topics, seeing as Frances was an army-man.
Inside, there was Dairy queen ice cream cake and eventually the conversation moved into the living room where it was time to open gifts.
Linnea worked herself through a bundle of cards, a Molly doll Halloween costume, a round gold sequined purse…
“Open it up; maybe there’s something inside,” Dad said.
Linnea unzipped the top and removed a wad of paper.
“See they put it in there to keep it puffy and round,” Dad explained, snickering.
“Snicketts!” Grandma Combs bellowed from the couch. “All these comments – we just have to have you at every party.”
Dad always made comments like these when the grandmas were present, in an effort to ruffle their feathers.
Linnea just giggled and continued unwrapping two large pirate books, army pants and top…
“Oh, now Linnea can go on maneuvers with Frances,” Grandma Combs said.
“Well, she goes on maneuvers anyway,” Mom chuckled as Linnea looked admiringly at the camouflage.
a Nancy Drew mystery game (which Carrie took over as soon as she got back from work), a black rubber pirate skulled kickball, a pirate face for the tree outside, cash in the envelopes…
“Here, Linnea, I’ll be your bank,” Aunt Rebecca held out her hand poker-faced to Linnea.
Linnea giggled and shook her head.
“She’ll keep good care of it for you,” Grandma Snicketts laughed, rocking in the rocking chair.
After the gifts had been thoroughly looked over and Linnea had shyly expressed her thanks, Grandma Snicketts looked at her watch and said she thought that maybe they should be going.
“Oh, it’s fine,” Aunt Rebecca said.
“But the kids have to get their showers and get ready for church tomorrow.”
“It’s Saturday night; they’ll be fine.”
Joe came in and told them that the moon was still big bright and white outside.
“See, Rebecca, if we leave now, you can see that moon on the way home.”
“That’s why we have windows back at your place,” Aunt Rebecca replied (as she was staying with Grandma until her return home).
“Now, Rebecca, I told you that we can’t see the moon from my windows.”
But eventually, they called it a night, and headed home.
In humorous news of the day, Bing had been asked out by two girls to homecoming. He told them he was busy.