Things Aren't Always as They Appinkle

1. 

   Picture him in 'pinkle'

   Families with children are inevitably the recipients of bags of kindly donated clothing.
2. Families with lots of children receive lots and lots of clothing. And
3. Not everything is as it appears.

These statements go together.

Maybe I should explain . . .

We had six children.

Still do, but that is another story.

Moving on . . .

For this reason, everyone who knew us, and even those who only knew OF us, brought us enormous donations of clothing.

They figured we needed it.

They were right.

Every time another large carton of clothing was dropped off, my children went through it.

Laughing and chattering excitedly.

It was like Christmas morning.

Some items were chosen as keepers.

Others were packed back into the box for donation elsewhere.

In one large box, there was a pinkle jogging suit.

You heard me right.

Pinkle.

Not quite pink/not quite purple.

A little 'hoodie' jacket and pants.

My son, Erik grabbed it.

He liked the bright colour.

For many months, it became his outfit of choice.

The first chosen when his clean clothes were stacked in his dresser.

The one that had to be sneaked out of his room for cleaning.

He was warm.

He was distinctive.

He was . . . let's put it this way – he was the brightest coloured boy in the whole second grade.

He loved that suit.

Occasionally, it would need repair.

Dutifully, I sewed up ripped seams or fashioned knee and elbow patches.

Then folded it and put it back into his dresser.

Where he would snatch it up eagerly.

This went on for several months.

Finally, my growing boy . . . outgrew it.

Something even I could do nothing to help.

The pinkle suit was sent to live out its last days in the rag bag.

Move forward several years.

Erik, now a married father of three was talking about that suit.

That horrible pink suit that I made him wear.

Day after day.

Week after week.

Month after . . . well, you get the picture.

Made him wear???!

“I thought you liked it!” I said.

“I hated it! I was trying to wear it out!”

Oh.

See?

Things aren't always as they appear.