No, that's all right Tom. I'm running late enough as it is. Donny! Get downstairs right now or your not going to get to meet Stan Boreson! Ok, now Tom. I've got salami in the fridge along with some hard-boiled eggs, and there's some fresh bread in the pantry. Donny, tuck your shirt in. Don't you "Oh, Mom" me young man, I don't have time for your shenanigans right now. Anyway, I should be home before ten, and if you’re gonna eat in front of the teevee, use a plate and don't get crumbs all over the chair. Now let's see, I've got my purse. Is my hat on straight? Donny, take this bag and hold it level. My dish is inside it. OK Tom, don't leave any messes. Now give me a kiss and I'll see you in a few hours.

Bye-Bye. Oh! I also got some of that beer you like, too. It's out on the back porch.

***

Whew! Hi June, I almost thought I wouldn't make it. Well hello there, Billy. You've gotten a lot bigger since I've seen you last. Ask your cousin Donny to tell you about the Sunday drive we took up to Bellingham last weekend to see the Fall colors. My Sis, that's a pretty dress. Is it new?

That long ago? Goodness, it has been a while since I saw you last. I've gotten so used to talking to you on the phone I feel like I see you all the time, even though you're way out in Duvall. It's nice not having to go through the operators anymore. Mama doesn't like the new dial phones though. Have you seen her make a call through the operator? She gets them on the line and before they even ask for the number, she's going on about her operations, or her dahlias or whatever.

Oh look, there's Juanita Beach. Did I tell you that it's being sold? Tom and I met there. I sure hope that whoever buys it keeps it the same. I've got a lot of memories tied up there. And see up that hill there? They're building about a hundred new homes there. Lots have changed since we moved here eight years ago.

OK, turn here and keep following the road. The school's less than a mile up. I really want to thank you for driving tonight. Tom just brought our car to the shop today. We might get a new car next year. Tom wanted one sooner, but I told him, "No way, buster. You're getting me a new washer and dryer first". The washer we have now has the front taken off because Tom has to continually tinker with it to get it to work. The other day, the cat was rubbing up against it while it was running, and his tail got caught up in the machinery.

No, he's all right, but he's a little embarrassed now that the tip of his tail doesn't have any fur. I almost had a conniption fit when it happened though. I thought a banshee was loose in the house. Once we got the cat home from the vet, I told Tom "That's it!". We have to use some of the money we've been saving up for the car to buy a new setup. It's gonna cost us about $400, but it's worth it.

OK, pull in right here. Oh look. There's a parking spot right up front. Donny, hand me my dish, but be careful with it. No, you may not have any of them. We're sellin them for the PTA and besides, they're for grownups, not children.

Oh, they're rumballs, Sis. I made them from a recipe given to me by a woman in my gardening club. I swear, though, I'm never going to make them when Tom's around. He kept hovering over me in the kitchen like a sparrow hawk, and when I told him he couldn't have any, he pouted and sulked like a little boy. Do men ever grow up? Donny, get the front door for your aunt and me.

Oooh, look at all this. They really did a nice job with the circus motif. Oh my, aren't these clown decorations adorable? Look Donny, aren't these cute? Well, I can see you're anxious to get over to the game room, so why don't you and Billy meet up with us later. And don't spend your allowance money on sweets. They're having a nice spaghetti dinner here, and afterwards you can watch Mr. Boreson. Now run along. And tuck your shirt in!

Come on, June. I think the cookie and cake sale is down the hall.

***

Bye June! Bye Billy! OK Donny, run upstairs and get ready for bed and in a bit I'll be up to tuck you in. Tom, where are you at?

Oh, sorry. Don't forget to flush! I'll be in the kitchen. Oh my God! He even washed the dishes!

Hi Honey! You're home early. How did the PTA carnival go?

Oh boy. Well, the spaghetti dinner was very nice. They could have used a bit more oregano, but it was still very good. Mr Boreson's first show was a hoot and the kids just ate it up. He's a very nice man. He was having coffee in the lunchroom between shows and a bunch of the children found him there. He actually took the time to talk to them and answer questions. Donny even got his autograph.

Well, he started his second show around 7:30. He must have been warmed up, because this show was even better than the first. He was about halfway through it, when all of a sudden - BAM - the lights went out. It turns out that one of those thingies on the light pole outside the school blew up.

I think that's what the lineman called it. Anyway, they hustled up some flashlights and tried continuing with the carnival, but the kids were starting to get rambunctious, and people started leaving. They were able to raffle off the turkeys and that was about it.

No, but you'll probably like this even better. You see, with the lights out they couldn't sell any desserts or canned goods, so I had to bring this back home. TA-DA!

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