Mom and I were visiting at my Auntie's
house.
An innocent enough activity.
And from it, I got claustrophobia.
Maybe I should explain . . .
Mom and Auntie were in the kitchen
chatting over cups of tea and home baked goodies.
My cousin and I had already done the
rounds of the dessert tray.
Several times.
We retired upstairs to more important
matters.
Play.
One of the bedrooms upstairs had no
furniture in it.
Or at least, I can't remember any.
But it did hold a large carpet.
Rolled into a neat bundle.
It looked like a hot dog.
Let's face it. In my world, everything
resembled food.
Moving on . . .
Suddenly, I got a marvellous idea.
“Let's play 'Hot Dog'!” I told my
cousin.
“Okay,” she said enthusiastically,
as though she knew exactly what I was talking about.
Which she didn't.
I unrolled the carpet and lay down at
the edge.
“Okay. Now roll me up,” I
commanded.
She did.
Cool!
Fun!
Neat!
Wait . . . I can't breathe!!!
I began to scream.
Okay, I could probably still breathe.
The ability to scream would indicate
this.
My cousin, understandably concerned,
stared at me.
Or at the rug that contained me.
I struggled mightily and finally,
managed to extricate myself.
I headed for the nearest safe place.
My Mom.
I burst into the kitchen, every
white-blonde hair standing on end and eyes like saucers.
“Mom! I nearly died!!!”
Okay, so melodrama and me were close,
personal friends.
Mom set down her teacup and looked at
me. “What?”
“I nearly died! I couldn't breathe!”
Mom frowned. “What are you talking
about?”
“We were playing 'Hot Dog',” I told
her.
She stared at me. “Hot Dog?”
“Yeah with the carpet. And I was the
hot dog. And I rolled up . . .”
Suddenly, Mom understood. “Oh.” She
gave me a stern look. “Diane, don't do that again!”
I admit that I often disobeyed my Mom.
Often quite deliberately.
But this time, I listened.
I like to think it was because I
discovered the joy of obedience.
But, actually, I think it's because I
discovered claustrophobia.
Obedience would have been more fun.
Another fabulous and cute story Diane! I always like to visit your world in blog land because I love your writing style...short and to the point, but full of meaning and images :) I'm so glad you survived your hot dog game and learned so much from it! :)
ReplyDeleteI remember almost dying (really!) from getting a hot dog stuck in my throat at a local fast food restaurant when I was little. My entire life flashed in front of me and one of my first thoughts was I can't go this way, choking on a hot dog! LOL! :) I learned to eat slower, but I don't have a phobia of hot dogs now (although for health reasons, I should :) )
Oh. My. Goodness. I can't think of anything scarier! I'm glad you didn't get any hotdog phobias or other nasty side effects from it. I'm with you on the whole hot dog/nutrition thing. But, like you, I still love 'em!
DeleteI've never experienced claustrophobia but I have a feeling that being rolled up in a carpet would do it for me. Gosh girl...you got yourself into some interesting pickles as a kid. mmmmmm...pickles
ReplyDeleteDiane... you are so funny... I cannot believe the things you have got yourself into...lol
ReplyDeleteAlthough, if I was really opened, I have done some things while I was growing up where I wonder how I made it through to today... hahaha
Diane, I am so glad I read your story! I can't imagine what it must have felt like to be rolled up in that rug! Oh my goodness, I feel claustrophobic thinking about it! hee hee! Such a great post, lady! :)
ReplyDelete