The Yellow Light and the Whistle

Our Rosedale cousin wrote me that her family routine every Sunday when they lived in Jackson included a trip to Monterey to see Arthur and Sudie. She says she did not fully appreciate the trip (something any self-respecting sub-teenager can understand, and something she did not keep to herself).

On one trip with Grandmother and Big Daddy, she brought a whistle. She had no particular purpose in bringing a whistle, but it was a recent acquisition from the five and dime, and you just take those things with you in case you need them.

Anyway, on this trip, she found a use for the whistle. Big Daddy was running a little late and ran through a yellow light at an intersection known for its long red. As the car cleared the intersection, cousin blew loudly on the whistle from the back seat, just as she had seen the policemen do in the movie matinee she attended with religious frequency on Saturday afternoons.

Big Daddy, always the careful driver, slammed on the brakes thinking he was being pulled over by a policeman. Every one lurched forward in those days when cars lacked any shoulder restraints, and as soon as the car stopped, Big Daddy jumped out to meet the policeman, hoping to explain his need to hurry. But, there was no policeman anywhere to be seen. All this time, cousin was doubled over laughing, fully expecting everyone would enjoy the joke.

Unfortunately, she quickly discovered that when she explained that she had blown the whistle, the adults were more than slightly annoyed.

In the end, cousin was not required (or was it "allowed") to make any more trips to Monterey (a real boon in her world).

Honestly, I can't really imagine Big Daddy annoyed, but cousin did say that from that time forward, Big Daddy, always a big tease anyway, made frequent reference to the event, always laughing heartily. I can imagine that!

©2006 David R. Childress. All Rights Reserved.