Tell a tale from your childhood -- happy or sad, doesn't matter. [View All]

[bertha katzenengel]

My mother and stepfather left my sisters and me in the station wagon one day while they "ran into" Thrifty. My mother left her purse by the gas pedal. It was hot and the windows were open. I was in the front seat.

A hippy* walked by the car on the passenger's side and stopped and looked in and asked what time it was, then suddenly reached in with his whole body and grabbed my mother's purse by the flap. As it was flying out the window, I reacted, grabbing the strap and holding it tight against the car door. The hippy ran away carrying the flap and I saved the purse.

When they came out of the store my mother had a smiley face pendant for each of us. Mine was blue. I said "Is this a reward because I saved your purse?" She said, "No, everyone got one."

My smiley face was like this only round, just the face:


* "Hippy" -- this happened sometime in 1970-1973. I think the guy got called a hippy in my mind because that must be what my stepfather called him according to the description we gave: jeans, t-shirt, beard, long hair. A tolerant asshole, my stepfather. :eyes:

What's your tale?