While I was at boarding school, there were certain school breaks when everyone had to leave the dorm. My parents lived too far away for me to go home other than for Christmas and summer breaks, so I had to rely on kind-hearted people to take me in.
On one particular break an elderly couple took pity on us and invited my friend Carol, who was also a missionaries’ kid, and me for the long weekend. Well, we were not the proper young ladies that this couple expected, evidently, because it became obvious that the lady of the house just didn’t approve of us. We tried to be polite and help out around the house, but, quite frankly, I think we just drove her nuts. There really wasn’t anything for us to do. They didn’t let us watch TV, which would have been a big treat since we didn’t get to watch it at school. There were no games to play. Although we tried to talk to her, she was just not a kindred spirit!
She finally sent her husband to drive us to the mall in Tulsa, which was an hour away. I think she just wanted a break from us. We were SO excited . . . . Only to find out when we got there that the man was going to walk around the mall with us the entire time! I’m sure he felt responsible for us, but we were dying for a little freedom. So our greatly anticipated trip turned out to be kind of a bummer.
The next day our hosts had guests arriving to join us for lunch. The food was ready and the table was set when they arrived. One of them introduced the visiting man to us first, saying, “Carol, this is Carol.” Well, I had never heard of a man named Carol, but for my friend Carol to be face to face and shaking hands with a man named Carol was just more than I could bear. A laugh burst out of me and there was no stopping it. The more I thought about it, the funnier it seemed. My friend Carol would normally have been more dignified, but with me laughing like a hyena, she couldn’t keep a straight face either.
The horrible thing is that no one else laughed. I mean, they didn’t even crack a smile. Our hosts were extremely embarrassed by my outburst. I, on the other hand, wondered how these people had lived this long with absolutely no sense of humor.
Yes, I was a silly school girl. Even my parents would probably have been ashamed of me on this day. But to tell you the truth, if this happened again today, twenty-some-odd years later, I can’t promise you that I wouldn’t have a very similar reaction!
“It’s so easy to be wicked without knowing it, isn’t it?”
– Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
My tip of the day? Laugh. It is more fun and you just might live longer. No need to purposely embarrass yourself and those around you though! 😉
I’m linked with Works for Me Wednesdays, Raising Homemakers and Tuesday Tips and Tricks.
Oh my goodness!! I would laugh as well 🙂
How sad to not be able to ‘enjoy’ life more!!
Wow! That’s very sad that they were so sour. They really missed an opportunity to be a blessing to you girls. You could be remembering how kind and welcoming they were to you. But, apparently, they didn’t want that.
That seems so sad to live your life in such a sober way! You know what, I bet the very last thing in the world that guy wanted to do was walk around the mall with you…so all of you were miserable!
I went to boarding school too, and I love that you used an Anne quote. We must be kindred spirits!
Oh, for heaven’s sakes, where was the sense of humor in these people?
lol I would have died laughing. That’s almost as bad as naming your son Sue :S
Great story! I’m also good at laughing at the wrong time–I used to be a news anchor and once lost it in the middle of a newscast. No one else was laughing. 🙂
Truly, people can be so stiff! You were probably the only “life” that ever entered their home… they were lucky to have you, too bad they didn’t figure it out!
You girls could have been the breath of fresh air they needed, they just did not see it! I wonder why they even asked you to stay for the break? I would have laughed too!!
I would have laughed too lol!!
Yep, I can picture the situation… Sounds hilarious – especially the fact that no-one else was laughing. Now what did you learn from this experience, young lady? (If I knew how to insert a smiley face, I’d probably put one here)
I agree with everyone…that couple had no sense of humor. The fact that the husband went with both of you walking around in the mall was such a terrible idea…huge mistake on their part. The fact that the visitor (Carol) had a girls name is what should be embarrassing not the fact that both of you laughed. I can imagine their faces as you both are laughing…..If I was there I would be wondering why they look so sour (where is your sense of humor?)
Many people have called me Anne of Green Gables. I seem to create trouble wherever I go, too!
That is sooo funny! Those people sound like a couple of fuddy duddies! I don’t blame you. I probably would’ve busted out laughing too, just from the stress of it all. I always get the giggles in stressful situations!
Thanks for linking up, Esther!
LOVE the pic and the side ponytail! (They’re back in style, you know!)
Hi! I found your blog through the Ultimate Blog Party. I enjoyed your story, although it really is sad that those people were like they were. I’m also intrigued as to why you were at a boarding school. I’ll definitely be coming back! By the way, you have a beautiful family. Oh, and I totally agree with you about laughter! 🙂
I’d love for you to stop by and visit my book/reading blog, Cindy’s Book Club http://cindysbookclub.blogspot.com
oh my goodness… I think that would have been funny to me to as a child. So grateful for the gift of laughter!
Just stopping by from the UBP and am now a follower!
joy & blessings to you,
Alida
That’s an awesome picture!
I used to rock the side pony lol. Following from UBP:-)
Hi Esther, I am visiting from the blog party. As you know, I have been following your blog for awhile 🙂 Your stories always make me smile 🙂 Blessings!
Thanks for sharing this story it gave me a much needed giggle and I would have laughed too.
Hi Esther! I too was at that boarding school….and ooooh the memories! I just found your blog through Carols FB. I love it! (Alison Foster)
“EVEN” your parents? I know . . . your dad thinks pretty much anything you do is okay and your mom is probably the one from whom you got the propensity to laugh at the wrong times.
That must have been a disappointing weekend. Obviously the host family had no teenagers. What a hilarious story! We would have loved to have you stay with us!