DUSTY'S THEN AND NOW

            It was time for fall cleaning. There was a break in the canning, since the pears were not ready yet and to say the least, everyone could use the break. The cellar’s in everyone’s homes were filling or were filled up and space was at a premium. Pop was already bringing in the root vegetables and putting them in soil in the front cellar where the bucket a day stove was.This was my favorite time. I got to crawl up into the space under the side porch and dig away to my hearts content. A child’s dreams come true.

            Pop hollered it was time to go outside and dig more vegetables to put down that is when I saw it! A line of Grammy’s lace curtains. They looked like earth bound clouds billowing in the breeze! I told pop I wanted to play in my willow tree so I was relieved of digging duty.

            As I walked to the tree with Pal, I also walked through the curtains. What child wouldn’t? I tried to play with Fritz and Pal but my heart wasn’t in it.I kept watching those beautiful lace curtains. The more I looked the more they changed shape in my mind.

            Well that was it! I ran out of the tree house and over to the clothesline and pulled one of the curtains down. I giggled as I ran back to the tree. I held the curtain and looked at it as if I was seeing it for the first time. It smelled so fresh and clean and I couldn’t get enough of the joy it was giving me.

            Then, keplunk! On my head it went. I remembered the brides at all the weddings I had seen at the hall across the street. Beautiful lace veils of all kinds and shape. Some with pearls, and rhinestones or flowers. Now I was going to be a bride. I put the curtain down, ran out to pop, and asked him for a rubber band. “A rubber band? Why do you want a rubber band?” “ I have to fix something together.” Well pop didn’t have a rubber band but he did have some string,”Will this help?” “Yes.” I took the string and ran back to the house hollering thank you.”

            Oh I twisted that curtain top this way and that and made all different tops. How I wished I could see myself now, but there was no mirror in the willow tree house. I played for what seemed a long time . I danced, twisted, and did my version of the “brides walk”. And I never noticed that Pal was gone. Then I heard it! “Where is my curtain? That dog took it I know!” Fritz looked at me and said, “At least this time she isn’t blaming me!” There was Grammy hollering at poor pal. I came out of the tree house and she spotted me! I was wearing the missing curtain. Fritz tried to warn me but I paid no attention to him. “What’s wrong Grammy?” She whirled around and spotted me, wearing her missing curtain.

            She was more that angry! “You!” I swear she was bright bright red by this. Time. “How many times have I told you,no playing with the wash?” “A lot” I was almost in tears.” How many years I have these curtains and now you think they are for you to play with?” “No” “Well then why did you take it off the line?” Grammy they looked so pretty and then I made a veil and played bride. I’m sorry” It cut no ice with her. I soon felt the palm of her hand on my sitdown. 1,2,3, smacks…The limit. I usually only got 1. She was mad. By this time pop was up from the garden just staring at the two of us. Grammy disheveled from cleaning and me with a curtain on my head with Pal sitting at my side. I could see him holding back a laugh.

            Grammy just glared at me. Finally, she said, “alright, now you come with me”. I followed her into the house with Pal on my heels. “ Now you curtain thief, you can wash the curtain in that wash tub. When it is clean I will hang it on the line” She was gone as fast as she appeared. Sometimes I wondered if she were two people.

            I put the curtain in the was tub and pushed it up and down and hoped I was doing it right when she appeared again. “Alright I will finish it now. You go play with Pal and Fritz, and no more curtains!” “Yes Grammy “ and I was out the door and running to my tree house. I buried my face in Pals side and cried until I fell asleep.

            I woke up and saw Grammy standing there and the first words out of my mouth were” I didn’t take any curtains!” I started to cry. She sat beside me on the ground, and held me. “I know you didn’t take anymore curtains. I came out here to give you this.” She handed me a real bride’s veil. “For me?” I was so surprised, “Yes, for you my little one” Grammy put it on my head and Pop appeared through the branches and handed me a bouquet of flowers and just smiled.

            I never knew until years and years later where the veil came from. The “Alley” neighbor came over to help Grammy starch and pin the curtains on the stretchers, and she told her about what I did. When the curtains were done the neighbor went home and returned with the veil. It was one she had sewn for a girl who never came for it.