We Were Sooooo Poor…

Hello folks, let’s chat…I like to laugh. I look for things to make me laugh. Fortunately for me, I present myself with plenty of opportunities during the day at my own expense because, as it has been so often noted, “I ain’t right.” I’ve also been blessed with strong powers of observation. Which translated simply means I like to eavesdrop, only that doesn’t sound near as writerly.

Thanks to these acute powers of observation, I got me a hearty laugh in the P.O. the other day while doing some of my official writerly duties. I was boxing book orders and addressing the packages on the public side of the window while my mailman and a couple of the other employees were chatting on their side. And for the record, I do know their names. It’s just that I’ve been instructed not to use them. I know, folks are wary around me now. I don’t know what that’s about, but back to my story.

As I was wrapping up the packages, the three of them were discussing money, and hard times, and growing up poor. I couldn’t hear the whole conversation but it seemed to be one of those escalating I can beat that story type of exchange, where each storyteller ups the ante on the last one. You know the game. Chances are, you’ve played it.

Well, my mailman came out with a strong story about how he and his two brothers dressed up for special events. He said they were so poor they only had one suit between them, so when they went somewhere nice one of them wore the pants, another wore the vest, and the other brother used the jacket.

We all thought that was funny enough but it was his big finish that sealed the win.

He said he still remembered the day his older brother came home and announced that he was going to the prom that weekend– and he was going to need the whole suit!

Hugs,
Shellie