When my husband and his brother were kids, their uncle
kept a buck deer (with a large rack of horns), named Jocko, in a wire fenced
area near the garden. One day the boys decided to play a trick on their
mother. The older boy sent my husband into the house with instructions to
yell, "Mom, Jocko's got Bud!" Their mother ran out with every intention of
tackling that buck with her bare hands. When she found it was a joke, she
sat down and cried. The boys were so contrite they didn't need
punishing. Seeing their mother so upset was quite enough
punishment.
Unfortunately, my Grandpa died
when I was only six, but not before he gave me my first horse ? a stick horse
that he made in his woodshop under backdoor steps to my Grandma?s house.
I don?t remember that much about him, other than he would make wooden toys for
us kids. He was particularly good with tops, making all kinds and
sizes. I recall him spinning and balancing three or four on his
hand. One day he decided to play a trick on Grandma who stored her
strawberry preserves in large jars in his workshop. He called me in,
opened one of the jars, took a huge scoop of jam out with his bare hand and
together we mounted the steps to Grandma?s kitchen. ?Davy,? he directed,
?run into the house shouting that ?Grandpa just cut off his hand.? Of
course I thought that to be a great joke and did as told. I rushed in
screaming my head off about Grandpa?s severed hand and the old man came
scrambling in right behind, his hand dripping with red gore. Grandma was
at the stove and turned as we rushed in. I?ll never forget the look of
panic on her face and how white it became ? just before she fainted! My
mom came running and almost joined her. Once we had the women back on
their feet and Grandpa revealed the ?joke? they grabbed whatever was handy ? a
broom ? a cleaver ? and went after Grandpa. Chasing him all around the
house. Needless to say, my Mom had some severe words to say to me.
And Grandma? She wouldn?t talk to me for a month! But still, the
old man and I had quite a laugh about it all ? once the smoke had
cleared!
