Picture him in 'pinkle'
Families with children are
inevitably the recipients of bags of kindly donated clothing.
-
Families with lots of children
receive lots and lots of clothing. And
-
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.
|
| Picture him in 'pinkle' |
Families with children are
inevitably the recipients of bags of kindly donated clothing.
Families with lots of children
receive lots and lots of clothing. And
Not everything is as it appears.
