Tammi's World

Confession to Clear the Soul

I figure after the story below, you all think what a mean and terrible person I really am - so I might as well tell you the story of the meanest more awfulest thing I've ever done in life. That way it's all out there and we can just move on. Plus, better safe than sorry with this storm comin'!!

Ok - you all know I have a little sister. She is 4 years younger than me a quite a bit smaller. Anyway, as with most little sisters, she could be somewhat annoying, to say the very least. Always following me around, always wanting to do what I was doing, play with MY friends, talk talk talk talk talk. You get the picture.

We lived on 3 acres with 150 trees. Along the back 40 was a field with horses and houses along the other side. Pretty quiet. Pretty secluded.

So one day my little sister decides that she is going to play Tammi's Shadow. My least favorite game in life. I say something, she repeats it. I do something, she mimics. That......makes......me......crazy! Always had.

So, I ask her if she wants to play a new game I just discovered. She readily agrees, after all, I'm the coolest big sister, no one smarter or funnier (I feel so guilty looking back).

I grab a rope and we head to the back 40. At the very edge of the property is a row of trees. I stand her up against one, opposite the house so one one can see what's going on. I tell her to hold one end of the rope, close her eyes and count to 20. I run around the tree, pulling said rope tight and securing her there with little movement available. When she opened her eyes, I was standing in front of her, hands on hips, glaring. NOW....Leave Me Alone!!!

Did I mention I was 11, and she was almost 7? No? Didn't think so.

I then went back up by the house and played for the rest of the day. Never giving a thought to what I had just done.

Now it should be said that we lived in the country and this was back in the days when you could let your kids run and play. All the neighborhood kids basically lived at each others house so it was a real break for parents. Not like today.

Anyway, come dinner time Mom calls us in. I go in, wash up and sit at the table. Mom is standing at the dining room window looking for Dawn.

Tammi? Where's your sister? Is she over at Terry's?

No. She's just a little tied up right now.

I never missed a beat and had the straightest face you've ever seen.

After a couple minutes Mom hollers again and starts out the back door. I'm sitting at the table eating. I glance out the window and Mom is at the edge of the garden running. Oops. I see Mom tugging at the rope and carrying Dawn back to the house. She wasn't smiling. Double Oops.

She comes in, runs Dawn a warm bath, gets her dressed in her favorite jammies and fixes her a tray and puts her to bed. All this without saying one word to me. After she gets Dawn settled she comes back to the dining room. Still no talking.

I stand up and walk around her to my bedroom. On the way I grabbed the paddle. She was right behind me.

Let's just say - I didn't play outside for a very long time after that. My only activity was church. Not even going to mention how difficult it was to sit down.

And not a word was ever spoken.

Dawn and I actually laugh about it now, and I always end by telling her how sorry I am about that whole thing. Geez, what a terrible child I was.

Poor Mom.

Posted by Tammi at August 12, 2004 11:06 AM | TrackBack